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Ashes to Ashes: A Fated Mates Reverse Harem Fantasy
Twenty-seven missions. Zero failures. No scars. No regrets.
Until Velasca—the ancient fae academy that was never supposed to see me coming.
I’m Ashlyn Morgan. Soldier. Assassin. Ghost.
Sent to blend in, observe, retrieve.
But when royal blood wakes… I become the target, the heir—and the weapon.
Then they appear.
The ice-eyed prince who sees every truth I’ve buried.
The golden scholar whose touch melts every wall I swore I'd keep up.
The wildfire in human skin who watches me like prey—and makes me want to burn.
My orders are clear.
But so is the bond calling me to them… and the throne they’ll kill to control.
Dark fae court intrigue. Reverse harem bonds. Blood-bought magic.
For fans of enemies-to-lovers, prophecy twists, and heroines who don’t beg—they burn.
Until Velasca—the ancient fae academy that was never supposed to see me coming.
I’m Ashlyn Morgan. Soldier. Assassin. Ghost.
Sent to blend in, observe, retrieve.
But when royal blood wakes… I become the target, the heir—and the weapon.
Then they appear.
The ice-eyed prince who sees every truth I’ve buried.
The golden scholar whose touch melts every wall I swore I'd keep up.
The wildfire in human skin who watches me like prey—and makes me want to burn.
My orders are clear.
But so is the bond calling me to them… and the throne they’ll kill to control.
Dark fae court intrigue. Reverse harem bonds. Blood-bought magic.
For fans of enemies-to-lovers, prophecy twists, and heroines who don’t beg—they burn.
- GenresFaeParanormalFantasy
611 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 10, 2025
279 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Elle Lincoln
41 books243 followersElle Lincoln has been writing out her dreams and even nightmares for over a decade. She believes in magic in all forms, and oftentimes you’ll find her daydreaming in the oddest of places. Her passion is Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, where the men are a little bit real and a dash of mythical.
When Elle isn’t writing she’s probably chasing around her four children, child-like husband, and a rambunctious Australian Shepherd. All who keep her on her toes. Nice try with the distractions, but mommy still got those books written and published. She resides in the beautiful state of Pennsylvania with lore and legends, and a whole lot of cornfields.
When Elle isn’t writing she’s probably chasing around her four children, child-like husband, and a rambunctious Australian Shepherd. All who keep her on her toes. Nice try with the distractions, but mommy still got those books written and published. She resides in the beautiful state of Pennsylvania with lore and legends, and a whole lot of cornfields.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 22, 2025
I really enjoyed the premise of this one and liked the characters but it fell a little flat for me overall. This was largely due to pacing which was a little too sluggish for me. I am a dialogue fiend and found some of the internal monologues a little repetitive towards the end as there were a few times when paragraphs appeared verbatim a couple of pages later or just slightly reworded. I was also a bit confused with some of the world building such as how the Wild Court still existed (and the Morrigan was representing them in the trials) if everything had been split between the Seelie and Unseelie courts and adding a third court back in was going to upset the balance.
There were elements I liked though which kept me engaged such as how Ashlyn had been set up for the mission which was an interesting spin. I did genuinely worry for her too in some of the later scenes where the tension was ratcheted up between the trials and she was sequestered away. I also liked the MMCs and the slow burn to begin with but there wasn't that many interactions on page to really develop the romance element for me. I did enjoy the fight scenes though and that Ashlyn was a teacher rather than a student was a welcome change to the normal academy set paranormal romances.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
My interpretation of the star system;
3 stars - I enjoyed it; would read the author again
4 stars - I really liked it; I am invested and definitely want more from this author/series
5 stars - I loved it; I engaged with this book completely until I finished it and it is one I will re-read.
There were elements I liked though which kept me engaged such as how Ashlyn had been set up for the mission which was an interesting spin. I did genuinely worry for her too in some of the later scenes where the tension was ratcheted up between the trials and she was sequestered away. I also liked the MMCs and the slow burn to begin with but there wasn't that many interactions on page to really develop the romance element for me. I did enjoy the fight scenes though and that Ashlyn was a teacher rather than a student was a welcome change to the normal academy set paranormal romances.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
My interpretation of the star system;
3 stars - I enjoyed it; would read the author again
4 stars - I really liked it; I am invested and definitely want more from this author/series
5 stars - I loved it; I engaged with this book completely until I finished it and it is one I will re-read.
August 8, 2025
Had to DNF at 41%.
Biggest pit falls:
-timeline. We are told that she needs to check in every what, 72 hours? All of a sudden after seemingly that 3 day mark where she needs to check-in she does.. but other characters say she’s been at the academy for weeks? There’s just already so many inconsistencies with time.
-accepting her lineage. Legit one page she was like omg I’m fae! Then is surprised when someone notes that she’s fae? She can’t believe it .. despite saying it herself before? Multiple times she’s told she’s royal.. yet is still surprised by it not in like a denial sort of way. Her inner monologue states she FEELS it.. but it still surprised somehow when multiple people mention it?
-the romance. I’m confused? How are they all in love after having one on scene meeting with each MMC.. I know it’s fated mates but the writing makes it seem like more than that despite only having brief interactions. It makes no damn sense to me.
-the writing. The writing is so clipped. I understand style and character, but the writing was clipped unnecessarily and took me out of the book. I would have to stop and reread passages to understand what was actually trying to be said.
Overall, it had a great premise just for the reasonings above I couldn’t continue ):
Biggest pit falls:
-timeline. We are told that she needs to check in every what, 72 hours? All of a sudden after seemingly that 3 day mark where she needs to check-in she does.. but other characters say she’s been at the academy for weeks? There’s just already so many inconsistencies with time.
-accepting her lineage. Legit one page she was like omg I’m fae! Then is surprised when someone notes that she’s fae? She can’t believe it .. despite saying it herself before? Multiple times she’s told she’s royal.. yet is still surprised by it not in like a denial sort of way. Her inner monologue states she FEELS it.. but it still surprised somehow when multiple people mention it?
-the romance. I’m confused? How are they all in love after having one on scene meeting with each MMC.. I know it’s fated mates but the writing makes it seem like more than that despite only having brief interactions. It makes no damn sense to me.
-the writing. The writing is so clipped. I understand style and character, but the writing was clipped unnecessarily and took me out of the book. I would have to stop and reread passages to understand what was actually trying to be said.
Overall, it had a great premise just for the reasonings above I couldn’t continue ):
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2025
interesting premise, could use another round of editing
I really wanted to enjoy this one, I enjoy the author’s work and the plot seems really interesting, but it could really use an edit for flow.
There are lines that are in one paragraph and then repeated verbatim in the next paragraph, choppy plot that seems like something got deleted or replaced without going back over it to work the flow together again, and inconsistencies. For example early on there is a fight demonstration between FMC and another combat professor that is supposed to be hand to hand combat and the win called at a 3 second pin. She takes off her pendant and holds it in her hand but then it’s seemingly still on her neck. Then they start counting hits as if now the fight ends at 3 hits, but it jumps from no hits to two. Then suddenly she’s holding her staff that she used in a previous fight between herself and her opponent, and in the next second it’s gone again and her opponent pins her for 3 seconds winning the fight.
Ultimately those inconsistencies and repeated lines took me out of the story and I DNF for now. I’d love to try again if it goes through another round of edits as it really does hold a lot of promise, it just doesn’t feel like this author’s typical finished product.
I really wanted to enjoy this one, I enjoy the author’s work and the plot seems really interesting, but it could really use an edit for flow.
There are lines that are in one paragraph and then repeated verbatim in the next paragraph, choppy plot that seems like something got deleted or replaced without going back over it to work the flow together again, and inconsistencies. For example early on there is a fight demonstration between FMC and another combat professor that is supposed to be hand to hand combat and the win called at a 3 second pin. She takes off her pendant and holds it in her hand but then it’s seemingly still on her neck. Then they start counting hits as if now the fight ends at 3 hits, but it jumps from no hits to two. Then suddenly she’s holding her staff that she used in a previous fight between herself and her opponent, and in the next second it’s gone again and her opponent pins her for 3 seconds winning the fight.
Ultimately those inconsistencies and repeated lines took me out of the story and I DNF for now. I’d love to try again if it goes through another round of edits as it really does hold a lot of promise, it just doesn’t feel like this author’s typical finished product.
July 20, 2025
I'm annoyed...
This book took a long time to get anywhere and not a lot happened. First, there is never a good overview of the world we are in. We know humans know of the paranormal but is it all humans? What consists of the paranormal? If read other books by this author that were much better at placing you in time and space. Secondly, time. Is everything taking place over days, weeks, months? The romantic aspect doesn't make sense for the amount of times the main characters have interacted. Lastly, there are only so many times a "hear me roar" moment can occur especially when nothing comes of it. The FMC keeps digging deep, overcoming an obstacle, obtains a realization only for nothing to change. She doesn't change the trajectory of anything. TBH not much changes from the beginning to the end.
I was willing to put up with the manufactured mystery when it seemed like something was going to happen. But I definitely end this book annoyed with wasting my time. All the hints and plot "twists" you can see from a mile away and the FMC does nothing to gain her own understanding.
This book took a long time to get anywhere and not a lot happened. First, there is never a good overview of the world we are in. We know humans know of the paranormal but is it all humans? What consists of the paranormal? If read other books by this author that were much better at placing you in time and space. Secondly, time. Is everything taking place over days, weeks, months? The romantic aspect doesn't make sense for the amount of times the main characters have interacted. Lastly, there are only so many times a "hear me roar" moment can occur especially when nothing comes of it. The FMC keeps digging deep, overcoming an obstacle, obtains a realization only for nothing to change. She doesn't change the trajectory of anything. TBH not much changes from the beginning to the end.
I was willing to put up with the manufactured mystery when it seemed like something was going to happen. But I definitely end this book annoyed with wasting my time. All the hints and plot "twists" you can see from a mile away and the FMC does nothing to gain her own understanding.
August 7, 2025
I tried I really did. The premise of this book was really good but I felt like the pacing was horrible.I DNF the book at 56% and it felt like I was reading it for 3 weeks and still nothing really happened.
It also seemed like the relationships between the characters and storyline were progressing off page, one minute she just arrived and is scared of what happening then it’s they all give me butterflies and make me feel thing and she’s basically only had 1 encounter with each MMC. She doesn’t really give a definitive timeline, like I didn’t know how much time was passing as I was reading. At one point she was given a deadline of seven days and then time went by and they told her she had 72 hours left; the literal next line was like so in five days thing are going to go down.
I wanted to like this book so much but it just wasn’t in the card for me. I enjoyed other books by this author, but the pacing of this book was just not it. And a lot of the writing was repetitive. Also some plot points just dropped.
It also seemed like the relationships between the characters and storyline were progressing off page, one minute she just arrived and is scared of what happening then it’s they all give me butterflies and make me feel thing and she’s basically only had 1 encounter with each MMC. She doesn’t really give a definitive timeline, like I didn’t know how much time was passing as I was reading. At one point she was given a deadline of seven days and then time went by and they told her she had 72 hours left; the literal next line was like so in five days thing are going to go down.
I wanted to like this book so much but it just wasn’t in the card for me. I enjoyed other books by this author, but the pacing of this book was just not it. And a lot of the writing was repetitive. Also some plot points just dropped.
August 11, 2025
Its okay..
I liked the overall plot to this story and the general idea of it. We have a badass FMC that discovers that she is not who she has always thought she was and the people she considered family have been playing her. Its a journey of self-discovery and regaining control over a life that showed how little choice there was. However, the writing itself got very repetitive, literally, in several places. The author restating the same information in the same exact manner and using the same exact words directly after just saying it. It made the book feel longer and read slower and I found myself getting annoyed. I understand some importance in restating what was said, but please use different words at least. I also felt like the MMCs ended up being a lot more similar than what was intended. Their individual moments with Ash paralleled each other too closely for how I think they were intended to be different. Overall, I finished the book, but I'm not hard pressed to read the next one.
I liked the overall plot to this story and the general idea of it. We have a badass FMC that discovers that she is not who she has always thought she was and the people she considered family have been playing her. Its a journey of self-discovery and regaining control over a life that showed how little choice there was. However, the writing itself got very repetitive, literally, in several places. The author restating the same information in the same exact manner and using the same exact words directly after just saying it. It made the book feel longer and read slower and I found myself getting annoyed. I understand some importance in restating what was said, but please use different words at least. I also felt like the MMCs ended up being a lot more similar than what was intended. Their individual moments with Ash paralleled each other too closely for how I think they were intended to be different. Overall, I finished the book, but I'm not hard pressed to read the next one.
July 19, 2025
Malanie
This book held so much potential to become a great read. It had interesting characters,and world building,and fae and magic damn it…
Despite the significant amount of repetition in this book, and overuse of long drawn out descriptions of how the FMC felt, or MMCs felt,or how any one felt really.
The moment I DNF this book, was the moment the author basically copied and pasted the intimate scene of one MMC for another. They just traded out words to suit a different scene/ person.
Less than 10% left to read on my kindle and thought f@$k it I am not continuing this story
I had actually thought a few times while reading if AI or ChatGPT had been used because of how often exact sentences were repeated almost within paragraphs of each other.
Disappointed I continued reading so long before giving up.
The 3 stars is because I genuinely enjoyed the basis of the story.
This book held so much potential to become a great read. It had interesting characters,and world building,and fae and magic damn it…
Despite the significant amount of repetition in this book, and overuse of long drawn out descriptions of how the FMC felt, or MMCs felt,or how any one felt really.
The moment I DNF this book, was the moment the author basically copied and pasted the intimate scene of one MMC for another. They just traded out words to suit a different scene/ person.
Less than 10% left to read on my kindle and thought f@$k it I am not continuing this story
I had actually thought a few times while reading if AI or ChatGPT had been used because of how often exact sentences were repeated almost within paragraphs of each other.
Disappointed I continued reading so long before giving up.
The 3 stars is because I genuinely enjoyed the basis of the story.
July 10, 2025
An absolute must read
This is a long book with a lot jammed in. I ate every single world of it. Devoured. I was annoyed when I had to put it down because real life was calling me. Ash has quite the journey going on. Everything she has ever known is being questioned and having to come to terms with the answers to those questions a lot. She is one tough cookie and I applaud her. She makes her mistakes but she does her best to try to learn from them and adapt. She is stubborn and stands her ground. The fae are vastly unprepared for Ash and I’m so excited to see how she flips the script. I’m also excited to see how her men grow and change with each new revelation they have about themselves and everything around them. Ash brings change and I don’t know how they ready they are to embrace that.
This is a long book with a lot jammed in. I ate every single world of it. Devoured. I was annoyed when I had to put it down because real life was calling me. Ash has quite the journey going on. Everything she has ever known is being questioned and having to come to terms with the answers to those questions a lot. She is one tough cookie and I applaud her. She makes her mistakes but she does her best to try to learn from them and adapt. She is stubborn and stands her ground. The fae are vastly unprepared for Ash and I’m so excited to see how she flips the script. I’m also excited to see how her men grow and change with each new revelation they have about themselves and everything around them. Ash brings change and I don’t know how they ready they are to embrace that.
July 16, 2025
I really enjoyed the plot of this book and can see what the author was trying to do, however, I found it SOOO repetitive. The same paragraphs/sentences were repeated pages apart which made for it to be a redundant and admittedly confusing read. I found myself going back to ensure I wasn't reading the same page over again only to find out the exact same wording was being reused. While I appreciate slow burns and trying to build individual characters, I don't think the POVs were deep enough to have readers build any relationship or attachment to any of the love interests- I would be totally fine if new ones appeared. I don't need a damsel in distress, but I also don't want the love interests to be...useless?
November 5, 2025
good, could’ve been better
I loved almost everything about the book. The world building, the romance, the betrayal, and conflicts. BUT it was so hard to read sometimes because of the structure of writing. Quotes were repeated over and over again, wordings almost exactly the same every other paragraph. Quotations needed when there aren’t any and it was sometimes confusing of whom was actually speaking.
I loved almost everything about the book. The world building, the romance, the betrayal, and conflicts. BUT it was so hard to read sometimes because of the structure of writing. Quotes were repeated over and over again, wordings almost exactly the same every other paragraph. Quotations needed when there aren’t any and it was sometimes confusing of whom was actually speaking.
July 16, 2025
Interesting take on Fae
So I loved the other cousins stories and I was eagerly awaiting this one. It didn’t feel connected or similar to those stories which I guess was what the author was going for. I felt the guys povs were overlapping at times and didn’t add up correctly but the story was interesting. I hope the next one is a little more concise.
So I loved the other cousins stories and I was eagerly awaiting this one. It didn’t feel connected or similar to those stories which I guess was what the author was going for. I felt the guys povs were overlapping at times and didn’t add up correctly but the story was interesting. I hope the next one is a little more concise.
July 29, 2025
Everyone should run and read this book. It grabbed me in the first chapter. It has been a while since that has happened. This book is so amazing. The characters are some of my favorites now. They make you like them when you shouldn't. I love the connection between the FMC and her harem. I can not wait to read book two.
July 31, 2025
What happens when you are sent on a mission and everything you thought you knew about yourself was untrue? That you are not human? That you know things that you should not know? What a wonderful book. I did not like the cliffhanger (but I did). Cannot wait until the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 7, 2025
DNF. I liked the concept of this story and the whole awakening thing. I thought that a lot of the ideas were pretty creative too but unfortunately but there were too many sentences being repeated in this book (Check my highlights for some examples) Some parts looked like they were written by AI as well…
July 17, 2025
has promise
There is a lot of repetition in this book. Like a lot. Also, character POV changing to a whole other character in the middle of a sentence or thought. I think the book holds promise but I’m hoping the next has better cohesive writing.
There is a lot of repetition in this book. Like a lot. Also, character POV changing to a whole other character in the middle of a sentence or thought. I think the book holds promise but I’m hoping the next has better cohesive writing.
Read
July 24, 20252nd longest wait of my life!!
The first was leaving Iraq. Cannot wait for Dust to Dust! Ash resonates with me. Her thoughts sometimes feel like my own. Amazing job Miss Elle, you rock my stripey socks!
The first was leaving Iraq. Cannot wait for Dust to Dust! Ash resonates with me. Her thoughts sometimes feel like my own. Amazing job Miss Elle, you rock my stripey socks!
August 8, 2025
DNF @ 30%. So much potential, but really needed some editing.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews