Darkened Dawn

by E.J. Mellow

From the award-winning author of The Mousai series comes the sweeping conclusion to the Icarus-inspired Way of Wings duology—where a forbidden love could save a fractured world…or bring about its end.

Cādra is on the brink of war. With their king in a coma and rebellion spreading across the lands, the winged Volari and horned Süra gather for tense peace negotiations. But beneath the momentary fragile truce simmers unrest—the mixed-blood Mütra rise, demanding the freedom denied them for centuries, as the gods themselves seem poised to intervene.

Tanwen—now a known Mütra and fugitive of the crown—and Zolya, a prince on the precipice to inherit his father’s broken kingdom, find themselves caught in a web of betrayal and divine reckoning. When their forbidden bond is exposed, they risk far more than their love—their lives, their families, and the fragile hope of peace.

Together they must decide whether their love is worth the ruin it may bring to their fractured world…or perhaps be the only key to healing it.

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 19, 2026

About the author

E.J. Mellow is an award-winning and Amazon bestselling author of magical mayhem. Her work has been translated into multiple languages, appeared on Best Of lists such as Buzzfeed and Gizmodo and has reached #1 in multiple Amazon categories, as well as received medals from eLit Book Awards and Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Readers have said her "lyrical, vibrant, and imaginative" writing sweeps them into "stunning worlds". E.J. is also the co-founder of She Is Booked, a literary themed fundraising organization that supports women’s charities.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

And just like that, a beautiful duology has come to a close. I'll miss it as dearly as I loved it, and I loved it a whole lot! Scorched Skies blew me away, I was in literal tears, not figurative, literal tears reading that first book of this duology. While Darkened Dawn did not pull out the same level of emotions from me, its conclusion is wholly satisfying and it ends on the right note. The one we'd all hope for. Which is a big theme in this one: hope. This is an underrated duology that deserves so much more readership. It left its positive mark on me, and I hope it does for all who venture into its world.

This book picks up right where Scorched Skies left off. With his father, the king, on his death bed, Zolya has the chance to right the wrongs of his father and mend a divided world. Tanwen, Zolya's love, also longs to see the world healed, but only once those like her, the Mütra outcast, have found not only freedom but equal footing in power as well. Tanwen and Zolya long to find a way to bring every side together, but their forbidden romance could unravel the threads they have carefully mended.

I'm usually one who has the memory of a goldfish, so I worried I'd have trouble keeping up in this sequel, but everything just rushed right back to me as I began. I *loved* that feeling, of the familiarity and of the love I felt reading the first book all returning as I immersed myself back in its world. Tanwen and Zolya, our leads, absolutely remain the standouts. I adore their POVs in equal measure. I appreciate how strong their love is but that doesn't mean it's always a smooth ride, they still challenge one another and it ultimately strengthens their bond. I also loved the entire cast of characters, particularly Zolya's friends (shout out to my fave Huw!). The cast of characters is the heartbeat of this work.

I genuinely loved this work, truly I did. What holds me back is that political subplot didn't quite capture my attention as it did in the first book. It almost felt there wasn't much to do and the lack of action slowed down the plot. I felt that sort of oomph from the first book simply wasn't quite as present this go around. And yet, what I cared for most, our leads, remained beautifully written and developed. They remain the soul of the work and they dazzle. So while the non-romance plot may have faltered, the love story remains strong as ever. I loved its resolution so very much!

This duology is one you don't want to miss. I'm going to look back at it so fondly and return to it every time I feel that urge to fly.

Thank you Montlake and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

_______
original post-read thoughts
The duology has come to an end in a way in which I leave satisfied and happy. I loved this duology, it's so underrated in my opinion. The first book just blew me away and it will always be one of those just imprinted in my very soul. I did enjoy and love this concluding sequel, but there also felt something missing. Some extra oomph, if that makes sense? Struggling with the rating because it's not a full 5, but it feels like more than 4? I really wrestle with star ratings to be honest. So I'll go and write my full review and let that decide.

In short: love the duology, this book didn't hit quite as effectively as the first but I still enjoyed its character and romantic arcs even as the rest of the narrative didn't quite fly as high.

Full review to come! (4 or 4.5? not sure yet!)

[Savannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish this story had MORE. For this to have been a duology and the second book to be a whole 200 pages shorter....it didn't feel complete to me.

I loved the first book even though it took me a minute to get invested. I wasn't sold so much on the relationship, but I was sold on the politics and the fantasy set up. The first book gave you so much to sit with and I felt like you could really feel the tension with some of the dynamics...this one felt completely opposite and brushed over almost everything.

I think....having the first book end with the King being poisoned was a good idea but it took so long for that to be resolved in this one. Almost halfway in before Zolya becomes the king? Which means that last half of the book (more like 25/25) had to be split between him making huge moves and the fallout from those moves.I don't think it was a fair shake for the politics of the story.

There were also additions from other characters and the gods which...would've been fine but we went from minorly mentioning them to having them play some of the LARGEST parts of the story which felt confusing. It sort of took a religious (real world) turn and I was like hmmm wait a minute 😂. I don't have religious trauma, but it definitely was giving some real life parallels that made me question where it was going.

I liked the romance more here because it really was the C plot with the way they were kept apart. The tension was built in based on the way the story played out. What I didn't like, was how ......unsecretive they were being? Like, okay Zolya is the KING and he really thinks he can sneak out? It was just giving unserious sometimes. I liked their dynamic, especially the way he was constantly ready to give it all up for Tanwen lol. What a man should do! But we should've added another suitor or something like, AGAIN we needed more!

Hated the friend Tanwen had. Hwun? Hwu? The way he regularly openly spoke in ways that would get them in trouble like hey, read the room? I get hating the government but in their world there was very much a time and a place. I know we were going for found family, but I didn't care for it. Same with Habelle. Like I don't care about anything this lady has going on. She did NOT need POV chapters.

My last complaint is the dialogue. It was riding a FINE line of being way too modern for the setting. Like why would they be talking like this? Add on to Zolya constantly calling Tanwen WILDFLOWER like omg.

Idk! I'm not familiar with the Icarus story apart from him burning too close to the sun, but I wanted more from this duology! I felt like it started so good and then turned into a quick closure like we could've just had one 800 page book at that point? I feel like making a whole second book defeated the point of what we actually got.

I'll definitely read it again once it's published just to get a clean copy and see if something has changed but yeah.....could've been one book!

I received an arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Klaudyna ♡]

Can't wait

[EJ Foreman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the conclusion to the Way of Wings duology, and it leans hard into forbidden love, political unrest, rebellion, betrayal, and the general fantasy-romance condition of “everything is on fire, but at least we’re yearning.”

What I really liked about this one (and the first book too if I'm honest) was the scale. It felt bigger, darker, and more emotionally complicated than a simple “will they or won’t they” fantasy romance. The forbidden bond between Tanwen and Zolya has real consequences, which made the romance feel tied to the fate of the world instead of just floating around in its own pretty little angst bubble.

It is a 4-star read for me because I really enjoyed the world, the stakes, and the emotional tension, but there were a few moments where I wanted the story to breathe a little more. There is a lot happening: rebellion, politics, divine reckoning, identity, love, loyalty, family, betrayal. All delicious ingredients, but some of them needed more time to cook.

What worked for me:
- The forbidden romance had serious stakes, not just “our parents would be annoyed” energy.
- The world felt layered, with political tension, rebellion, and social divisions that gave the story more weight.
- The tone felt darker and more epic, which made this feel like a true conclusion instead of a soft little wrap-up with wings.

What didn’t fully work for me:
- There were moments where the pacing felt packed because so many conflicts were happening at once.
- I wanted a little more breathing room between the political drama, romantic tension, and world-ending chaos.
- Some of the bigger fantasy elements felt like they could have used more time on the page.
- As a conclusion, it had a lot to resolve, and I could feel the book working hard to land every piece.

Tropes and vibes:
Forbidden love
“Our love could ruin everything”
Star-crossed lovers
Gods meddling in mortal business
High-stakes fantasy romance

Who should read it:
Read this if you like fantasy romance with big stakes, forbidden bonds, political tension, and characters who are trying to save the world while also being emotionally inconvenient about each other. Darkened Dawn is dramatic, romantic, and full of “this could either heal the world or absolutely wreck it” energy. I had a really good time with it, even when I wanted it to slow down and let me emotionally process.

[Elige Ghattas · Rating 4 out of 5]

‎A wildflower is a flower or plant that grows, spreads, and blooms in natural, uncultivated areas without human intervention. But here, Tanwen is just that, yet so much more.
‎
‎Tanwen was always Mütra, an outcast, something banished, something outside of divine control. She is Zolya's wildflower, not only in her mere existence but in the incredible woman she turned out to be.
‎
‎In the first book, we saw her waver and scared, slowly stepping out from the shadows with the sole purpose of survival not only for herself but for every single piece of her heart. Here, we see her finding *herself*: a soul emerging from the shadows, seeking freedom for her own life as a whole. Because everyone deserves a life where hiding isn't mandatory and where love is celebrated instead of shamed and banished.
‎
‎Zolya grew as well as a king, as a brother, and most importantly as a man.
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‎Everything has a cost. But are we willing to pay it? That is a question we face daily, whether that sacrifice ranges from an hour of sleep to a life-or-death matter. The scale is always there, no matter how broad it is.
‎
‎This book, like the first one, did not disappoint in the political and philosophical insight crafted beautifully within it. "Masterpiece" is an unworthy word to describe the world-building, the writing style, the characters, and the simple dilemmas woven in to carry a message. It leans more toward the diplomatic side of life no wars or bloodshed, but rather a combined effort toward peace.
‎
‎The events unfolding may not be as eventful as a constant war with victims and battles, but despite that, we see the yearning within them beautifully crafted not as simple nagging or dramatization of difficult periods.
‎
‎I truly enjoyed this book and the journey of each character all of them. The importance of one's community is granted great importance, whether for mortal and deity alike.
‎
‎I would recommend this for anyone who enjoyed *Six of Crows* and its dynamic planning of events. It may not be an impossible heist come true, but it is rather a reclaiming of freedom that was never granted, and therefore never truly lost.

‎Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

‎Happy reading ◉‿◉
‎
‎

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darkened Dawn by E. J. Mellow
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Darkened Dawn picks up shortly after the murder of the King. Zolya is now acting King of Cādra, and his mother, Queen Habelle, has returned to help him shoulder the burden of ruling. The story begins with a meeting between the rebel Mütra and the Volari as they attempt to come to an agreement to stop the unrest spreading across the lands.

Tanwen and Zolya have agreed that their relationship must remain a secret, so they present themselves as separate parties during these political meetings. Zolya wants to begin repairing the damage his father caused to the kingdom, but he must proceed carefully. With his sister accused of murdering their father and the Mütra viewed as vile by much of the kingdom, he knows he cannot push too many changes all at once.

This book explores the political turmoil both sides face as they try to strengthen the kingdom and dismantle the injustices left behind by their predecessors. We also see the strain that secrecy and deception place on Tanwen and Zolya’s relationship, as their choices and responsibilities begin to affect one another. Judged by nearly everyone around them, their relationship is continually tested—and the future of the kingdom may depend on whether they succeed or fail.

E. J. Mellow did a great job highlighting the political complexities of society and how deeply rooted beliefs can either strengthen or destroy a kingdom. A major theme throughout the story is the prejudice against the Mütra, who are viewed as unworthy by the Volari without anyone truly questioning why these beliefs exist. Cādra was so committed to these ideas that many people failed to recognize what a tyrant their King had truly been.

Zolya and Tanwen must constantly prove themselves—not only to their families and allies, but to the kingdom and even the Gods themselves. Shouldn’t happiness be enough?

While I personally enjoyed book one a little more, Darkened Dawn was still a satisfying conclusion to the Way of Wings duology.

[Gabrielle Perna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This final book in the duology was so good and satisfying. I flew through it and could not put it down. At every moment I was swept away in the momentum of this book. I had so many emotions while reading it so worried about people finding out about Zoyla and Tanwen and that the Volari were going to do something terrible to the Mutra. I felt like a majority of the time I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see if something horrible was going to happen because the tensions were so high in this final installment. Everything we saw in the first book was finally coming to fruition and it could have gone really well or really poorly. I really enjoyed the growth of Zoyla and Tanwen's relationship, I felt like they grew more to be partners in everything and not just lovers. I felt that their relationship was sort of unbalanced in the first book but it really grew and Zoyla made great strides to make it known that there was not power imbalance between them and that he saw them as equals. Their love was so good and pure, I loved every moment of it. The side characters in this book were so good I loved Huw and Azla are hilarious. I love Tanwen's relationship with them and seeing her finally have friends and heal her loneliness that she experienced as a child.

I definitely felt that this series could have been longer, I wish I could have gotten more of happy times between everyone. I felt like everything was constant conflict and I am glad they got their HEA but I yearned to see more happy times between Zoyla and Tanwen especially. Truthfully, as I have already said I would read anything Mellow writes even as simple as her grocery list. She has a way to pull in the reader into her world right away and absorb them into the new world. I cannot wait to see what she create next, every single book she has written thus far has blown me away. Everyone must read this series!!

Thank you EJ Mellow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Katharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4/5 stars

I love how EJ Mellow weaves her stories. They are always visually appealing and the magic system is always interesting!

I love the tension in this book between Zolya and Tanwen. They can finally be together but there’s this constant question and fear of can they really be together?

I feel like seeing Zolya come into himself in this book was really well done. We got to see the politics side and making sacrifices at what cost. The court pressure and friendship pressure. It was very relatable to believe in something and have a large group disagree. So it was interesting to see how he handled it.

Tanwen really had to grow a lot and I think the author showed that well. There were parts of this story that were painful because you did want her to lash out and take her vengeance. The author did a great job of making the characters feel real.

I loved the backstory of Zolya’s mom and getting to see in her mind. It was such a treat to peek behind the curtain and see a different side of the story.

Overall this wrapped up nice and I enjoyed following Zolya and Tanwen on their adventure. Looking forward to what EJ Mellow creates next!

[katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Scorched Skies so I was soooo excited to read this book!!!! While I also enjoyed this book and think it has such important messaging while paralleling the world we live in and offering a look at what could be and inspiring hope for a better future for ALL people, I do think this duology falls victim to the duology curse and that it probably could have been better as a trilogy. And I say this only because I really loved this world and what was built and the nuances and complexities within it, and I would have loved to have spent more time in it and seen certain things take longer to happen and develop. But overall I really enjoyed it, though I did struggle a bit with the end in one certain aspect related to the Gods but maybe that’s just my atheism speaking LOOOOOOL

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the advance copy to review!

[Autumn Breeze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from @Netgalley

I have not read the first book in this series however I was gripped from the beginning. The book starts quickly, the pace of the book is quick and the characters are built well, the secrets which are exposed in the initial few chapters were so well placed. It made me want to find out what happened and gripped me to the book. The descriptions are magical and the way the book goes on is brilliantly written. The descriptors and use of language whilst world and character building is fantastic. As the book goes on you become drawn to know what happens between the MMC and MFC. The ending is gripping and had me in tears. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star read.

[Karyssa Ryder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went from the first book to immediately devouring the second one. Tanwen and Zolya have such a special relationship. They have a lot of respect and love for each other. Even though they both come from such different places and they know that being together will cause so many issues they still choose each other every day. I also loved the chapters from his mom’s POV. Being able to understand how she was putting things together and also working through her feelings with things added another layer of depth to the story. I loved this world and I am sad to say goodbye! Thank you NetGalley, E.J. Mellow and Montlake publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Sarai Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this one might’ve been claimed by the second book curse. I loved the first, and Mellow’s writing is still doing its thing here, but there’s a heavy lean into political intrigue that slowed things down for me.

That said, the ending pulls its weight. Things finally move, a few “huh” moments land, and I closed the book feeling satisfied… just not as invested as I wanted to be.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Sara | Instagram | Book Confessions of an ExBallerina

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darkened Dawn was one of those reads where I finished and just sat there like… wait, that’s it?? I WANT MORE!!

overall… this felt fast. like really fast. it kind of speed ran through major plot points and big moments that I wanted more time with. the bones of something bigger are so there, but it just didn’t fully lean into them.

the ending wraps everything up nice and tidy, which I know will work for some people, but I personally wanted more - more time with the gods, more expansion of the world, a little bit higher stakes. that’s kind of my biggest thing - this really feels like a duology that should have been a trilogy. the stakes didn’t feel as high as they could have been because everything moved so quickly. give me one more book to let it breathe and I think it would have been amazing!! that said, I did really appreciate the commentary woven in around social issues and class discrimination.

thank you so much to Montlake for the ARC!

[Elizabeth Carmichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as and ARC from Netgalley for a fair and honest review. I loved every second of this book. The world and magic system are rich and complex. I enjoyed all of the various POVs allowing insight into each characters views and motivations. I'm kind of sad that this story is done, but I loved every second of it. The love story has enough passion to make it enjoyable and enough tension to keep me invested. I love E.J.'s style and look forward to rereading the whole series continuously.

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like this one, but not as much as the first book. It just didn’t feel like there was much of a plot, and the story kind of limped along. That said, I do like the characters, and I just wish the story had more to it.

[Kathleen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I love this book I was waiting a long time to read book 2 loves evening about this book I’m in love with the characters and they are back together the ending had me in tears sad ones then those turned into happy ones I loved the ending and the book highly recommended I can’t not wait for the next book