Crown of Ashes

by kylie creed

Danger comes wrapped in charm and a last name that rules the city.
He shouldn’t matter to me.
But he does.
And that makes him my greatest mistake.

Ravenswood University hides many things
secrets whispered through marble halls,
sins buried beneath old money and power.
I didn’t come here to belong.
I came here to destroy.
But vengeance has a pulse.
It breathes, it tempts, it consumes.
And when his eyes find mine,
I start to wonder which will destroy me first
my need for justice…
or the boy born of the same darkness I swore to kill.
They say ashes can’t burn twice.
They’re wrong.

Author’s This isn’t a love story.
It’s a warning wrapped in silk and blood.
Step into Ravenswood if you dare—
but once you do, there’s no way out.

245 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 4, 2025

Reviews

[ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elena is on the hunt for the secret society members involved in the killing of her mother. She hunts them down one by one and is a complete badass while doing it.

She soon meets Adrian, the son of one of those members. They are enemies from the start but soon, the barrier breaks and they start becoming closer. He has no interest in becoming apart of the society his father is apart of, but to tear it down from the inside, he has to make a decision.

Will he join them or will he continue on like it doesn’t exist?

The world building in this is immaculate. Author Kylie Creed really brought together an amazing story with an intense ending. I can’t wait to book two!

✨Tropes✨
Secret Society
Elite University
Enemies to Lovers
Slow Burn
Revenge
Loss of Parent
Killer FMC
Obsessed MMC
Secrets

[Alijo]

I had to DNF this at 15% so I won’t give it a rating. I know it’s an arc so often spelling/grammar issues haven’t been caught, but every page has grammar issues and it was getting in the way of being able to enjoy the story.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good dark romance with murder plot ! Eleana and Adrian were honestly the best! I understood where they were coming from and the way they acted in college. But the end they both have the same objective. Can’t wait for the second part ! I know It’s gonna be really amazing as this first book was !

[Fernanda M.A · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW 🔪💀
4.5⭐

Tropes:

🔪Knife to throat chemistry
🤫Revenge hidden identity
💀Obsessive MMC
😈Forced proximity
☠️Morally grey unhinged FMC
💰Secret society
🏫Elite university setting
💞Enemies to lover tension

I have a new recommendation for you.

⚠️Warning: Don't expect a love story, this book isn't one⚠️

Eleana was a girl who didn't believe in love, incapable of feeling it. Everything changed when a loving family adopted her. She spent years surrounded by happiness until it was all taken from her. Now, with a new identity, she's driven by revenge.

On the other hand, we have Adrian, the future heir to the secret society "The Veil." He's cold, or rather, the image he wants everyone to believe in order to hide how unhappy his life is. He also wants to go against his father and the veil.

Eleana and Adrian feel an attraction from the first moment they see each other, struggling to keep their feelings from developing. But one afternoon, temptation proved too strong, and for one night, shshe decided to stop being enemies.

Will Eleana be able to carry out her revenge, or will her attraction to Adrian distract her from her goal?

I enjoyed seeing a strong protagonist, capable of deceiving everyone around her—well, almost everyone except Adrian. She's not your typical weak girl; on the contrary, her suffering brings out the darkest and most evil side of a human being.

I need to read the next book. I need to know what will happen to Eleana and Adrian, and the revenge.

Thanks Kylie for the ARC 😘