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Ash and Midnight #1
A Court of Ash and Midnight
A court of mysteries and deception…enemies seeking her at every turn…and the most dangerous of them all, the man she can’t manage to stay away from, even if it means her doom.
Twenty-two-year-old orphan Embyr has spent her whole life trying to survive and stay off the streets. She manages to go unnoticed as a blacksmith’s apprentice, until the day she’s hunted through the woods by a band of cloaked figures.
Things take an even stranger turn when she’s rescued and taken to a castle hidden in the mountains, which serves as the headquarters of the Shadow Guardians, a guild of warriors that protect the realm.
But as Embyr learns more about her new home, she soon begins to wonder if she’s really been rescued, or if something more sinister is at play. It seems she’s the pawn in a deadly play for power, and inside the walls of the castle, it’s impossible to know who’s a friend and who’s an enemy.
And then there’s Daemon, the dark loner who everyone warns her to stay away from. He’s clearly dangerous and most definitely her enemy, and his reasons for being there are even more mysterious than Embyr’s. But try as she might, fate keeps drawing them closer, and he awakens something in Embyr that she never knew was there… something that might just prove deadly to them all.
From the author of the bestsellers House of Gilded Nightmares and City of Night comes the next tale in the connected Crowns of Aureon series. A COURT OF ASH AND MIDNIGHT is an enemies-to-lovers romantasy, slow burn building to delicious spice with a morally gray, burn-the-world love interest. It’s the first in a series.
Twenty-two-year-old orphan Embyr has spent her whole life trying to survive and stay off the streets. She manages to go unnoticed as a blacksmith’s apprentice, until the day she’s hunted through the woods by a band of cloaked figures.
Things take an even stranger turn when she’s rescued and taken to a castle hidden in the mountains, which serves as the headquarters of the Shadow Guardians, a guild of warriors that protect the realm.
But as Embyr learns more about her new home, she soon begins to wonder if she’s really been rescued, or if something more sinister is at play. It seems she’s the pawn in a deadly play for power, and inside the walls of the castle, it’s impossible to know who’s a friend and who’s an enemy.
And then there’s Daemon, the dark loner who everyone warns her to stay away from. He’s clearly dangerous and most definitely her enemy, and his reasons for being there are even more mysterious than Embyr’s. But try as she might, fate keeps drawing them closer, and he awakens something in Embyr that she never knew was there… something that might just prove deadly to them all.
From the author of the bestsellers House of Gilded Nightmares and City of Night comes the next tale in the connected Crowns of Aureon series. A COURT OF ASH AND MIDNIGHT is an enemies-to-lovers romantasy, slow burn building to delicious spice with a morally gray, burn-the-world love interest. It’s the first in a series.
340 pages, ebook
Published October 16, 2025
68 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Aurora Grey
15 books86 followersAurora Grey lives in Florida with her dog, too many cats, and a very mischievous horse. She writes stories about magic, swoonworthy dudes, and the strong, sexy women they fall for. When not enjoying books, she can be found traveling, a glass of champagne in hand.
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Get exclusive news and offers, and a free short story! Sign up for Aurora's newsletter → bit.ly/30gjNA8
TikTok → @auroragreyauthor
Instagram → @auroragreyauthor
Facebook → facebook.com/auroragreyauthor
Hex Heathens reader group → bit.ly/3CWreiu
Website → auroragreyauthor.com
Drop a line → auroragreyauthor@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 20, 2025
this book was fun but lowkey boring and so cliche. the only unique/unpredicted part was the very end, but the next book isnt out yet. not sure if i wouldve continued. i dont feel connected to the main character as the story is solely plot driven and has minimal time to really connect with the characters. i think i wouldve enjoyed this more if it took longer to focus on the little things so i could like the characters. because every single character did exactly as i was expecting. i couldve been more surprised/blindsided if they felt genuine and not archetypal. overall i thought this was fun and has potential, but the execution wasnt there for me, and i dont feel the "need" to read the next book.
October 3, 2025
A Dark and Addictive Fantasy That Casts a Spell
Aurora Grey’s A Court of Ash and Midnight is one of those fantasy romances that pulls you in with a whisper of danger and keeps you turning pages with its layered intrigue, compelling world, and slow-burning tension. It's rich in atmosphere, steeped in shadows, and filled with just enough bite to keep things interesting.
Embyr is a strong, likable heroine with grit and emotional depth. She's not some chosen one waiting to be saved—she’s already learned how to survive. When she’s dragged into the world of the Shadow Guardians, her life takes a sharp turn into the unknown. What follows is a blend of dark secrets, simmering tension, and a growing sense that the world she thought she knew is far more dangerous—and far more magical—than she ever imagined.
Daemon, the male lead, is the kind of brooding, morally grey character who will have readers torn between warning Embyr to run and begging her to get closer. The chemistry between them is slow to ignite, but once it does, it crackles. There’s a real emotional payoff to their bond—it’s not all lust and angst, but a deeper connection that builds through small moments and subtle trust.
The world building is ambitious, and while a few parts felt a bit vague or held back (likely to set up future books), it still draws you in with its gothic undertones, ancient power struggles, and hints of courtly magic and betrayal. There’s a good mix of mystery and romance, with enough plot twists to keep you guessing but not so much that it becomes overwhelming.
If I had one critique, it’s that the pacing occasionally stumbles—especially in the first half, where things are still unfolding and Embyr is left in the dark a bit longer than necessary. Some scenes feel like they could’ve gone deeper emotionally, especially given how high the stakes are for her. But these are small issues in what is otherwise a gripping read.
Overall, A Court of Ash and Midnight is a strong entry into the fantasy romance genre, perfect for fans of slow-burn love stories wrapped in danger, secrets, and shadowy magic. With its unforgettable characters and dark charm, it definitely leaves you wanting more.
Aurora Grey’s A Court of Ash and Midnight is one of those fantasy romances that pulls you in with a whisper of danger and keeps you turning pages with its layered intrigue, compelling world, and slow-burning tension. It's rich in atmosphere, steeped in shadows, and filled with just enough bite to keep things interesting.
Embyr is a strong, likable heroine with grit and emotional depth. She's not some chosen one waiting to be saved—she’s already learned how to survive. When she’s dragged into the world of the Shadow Guardians, her life takes a sharp turn into the unknown. What follows is a blend of dark secrets, simmering tension, and a growing sense that the world she thought she knew is far more dangerous—and far more magical—than she ever imagined.
Daemon, the male lead, is the kind of brooding, morally grey character who will have readers torn between warning Embyr to run and begging her to get closer. The chemistry between them is slow to ignite, but once it does, it crackles. There’s a real emotional payoff to their bond—it’s not all lust and angst, but a deeper connection that builds through small moments and subtle trust.
The world building is ambitious, and while a few parts felt a bit vague or held back (likely to set up future books), it still draws you in with its gothic undertones, ancient power struggles, and hints of courtly magic and betrayal. There’s a good mix of mystery and romance, with enough plot twists to keep you guessing but not so much that it becomes overwhelming.
If I had one critique, it’s that the pacing occasionally stumbles—especially in the first half, where things are still unfolding and Embyr is left in the dark a bit longer than necessary. Some scenes feel like they could’ve gone deeper emotionally, especially given how high the stakes are for her. But these are small issues in what is otherwise a gripping read.
Overall, A Court of Ash and Midnight is a strong entry into the fantasy romance genre, perfect for fans of slow-burn love stories wrapped in danger, secrets, and shadowy magic. With its unforgettable characters and dark charm, it definitely leaves you wanting more.
October 17, 2025
Spice: 4/5
Genre: Fantasy Romance,
Content Warnings: Violence, death
ARC Source: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thoughts: I enjoyed this book overall, it has your typical brooding shadow daddy, an awesome fierce FMC, lots of world building, magic and a tournament to the death. The author does a pretty good job of world building but you will find some areas where it does fall a little short but hopefully is made up for in the second installment of this series. My favorite part of this book is the FMC, Embyr’s resilience and ability to survive all of the things that are thrown at her while not allowing her past to completely control her entire future. There is just enough tension building between the main characters to consider this a Romantasy but just barely! The world building and character arcs take up 2/3s of the book with the magical trials only coming at the very end of the book. I do have to say, this is the first book I have read that has an interlude. There were enough twists and turns to keep you interested throughout the book. I would recommend this book and can’t wait for the next one to come out.
Genre: Fantasy Romance,
Content Warnings: Violence, death
ARC Source: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thoughts: I enjoyed this book overall, it has your typical brooding shadow daddy, an awesome fierce FMC, lots of world building, magic and a tournament to the death. The author does a pretty good job of world building but you will find some areas where it does fall a little short but hopefully is made up for in the second installment of this series. My favorite part of this book is the FMC, Embyr’s resilience and ability to survive all of the things that are thrown at her while not allowing her past to completely control her entire future. There is just enough tension building between the main characters to consider this a Romantasy but just barely! The world building and character arcs take up 2/3s of the book with the magical trials only coming at the very end of the book. I do have to say, this is the first book I have read that has an interlude. There were enough twists and turns to keep you interested throughout the book. I would recommend this book and can’t wait for the next one to come out.
December 26, 2025
This came up as I read the dark fae guardian series. This series is set in the same world. I enjoyed the book, I liked the writing and it was fast paced.
In saying that, I thought the book was a bit slower to start, then picked up quickly just after mid way. The romance part especially escalated quite quickly. It was fairly predictable in terms of who the villains were, but I’m looking forward to reading the next one!
In saying that, I thought the book was a bit slower to start, then picked up quickly just after mid way. The romance part especially escalated quite quickly. It was fairly predictable in terms of who the villains were, but I’m looking forward to reading the next one!
December 28, 2025
2 stars
Started off decent but by the end I was rolling my eyes. Reads very YA. The characters don’t really have distinct personalities except for her cousin Cillian which I suspect I know why. But even by the end he was still my favorite because at least he had a personality. I will not be continuing with the series
Started off decent but by the end I was rolling my eyes. Reads very YA. The characters don’t really have distinct personalities except for her cousin Cillian which I suspect I know why. But even by the end he was still my favorite because at least he had a personality. I will not be continuing with the series
October 28, 2025
NEED PART TWO ASAP!!!
Really good book by a great author . Just right amount of slow burn, spice and tension. Knew you know who was too good to be true and please let you know who be ok. Hope sis is not bad. There…. Plenty of twists and turns and no spoilers ;-)
Really good book by a great author . Just right amount of slow burn, spice and tension. Knew you know who was too good to be true and please let you know who be ok. Hope sis is not bad. There…. Plenty of twists and turns and no spoilers ;-)
October 26, 2025
Loved this book. So looking forward to the next one.
November 18, 2025
This was so good. I have been in a fantasy reading slump and this book got me out of it fast! Hurry up and go read it
December 11, 2025
Superb story erc.
Most excellent. One of the best stories I’ve read in a long time. Looking forward to reading the next episode.
Most excellent. One of the best stories I’ve read in a long time. Looking forward to reading the next episode.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews