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Ashes of a Shattered Soul
Not yet published
Expected 26 Feb 26Fated mate is killed.
Eons of pain.
Rage-fueled destruction of planets.
Memory burned away. Identity gone.
And then… he comes back — reincarnated into two men born fifty years apart on a world that shouldn’t even know her name.
Immortal duty. Shattered love. An unbroken will that refuses to die.
Featuring a foul-mouthed immortal disaster who’s tired of saving worlds, a cinnamon-roll commander she absolutely shouldn’t bang, and the monster villain she maybe already did… in another lifetime.
Love triangle? More like emotional arson.
Ashes of a Shattered Soul delivers a sweeping dark romantasy of cosmic heartbreak, devouring rage, and redemption carved from pain.
Eons of pain.
Rage-fueled destruction of planets.
Memory burned away. Identity gone.
And then… he comes back — reincarnated into two men born fifty years apart on a world that shouldn’t even know her name.
Immortal duty. Shattered love. An unbroken will that refuses to die.
Featuring a foul-mouthed immortal disaster who’s tired of saving worlds, a cinnamon-roll commander she absolutely shouldn’t bang, and the monster villain she maybe already did… in another lifetime.
Love triangle? More like emotional arson.
Ashes of a Shattered Soul delivers a sweeping dark romantasy of cosmic heartbreak, devouring rage, and redemption carved from pain.
- GenresFantasyDark Fantasy
581 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 26, 2026
20 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
January 19, 2026
Thank you to the publisher Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I rather enjoyed this book, I loved that it was a standalone book so there was no cliffhanger to break your heart at the end, although this book did plenty of that. I liked Rynna as despite everything the weaving had thrown at her she was still standing, still fighting even if she doesn’t know why. I liked both Kaelith and Fenn, they both complimented Rynna in different ways but out of the two Kaelith was my favourite. Yes he was a monster but he was her monster, my heart did break for him a little bit with what he went through. I liked the flashes of Rynna’s other missions scattered throughout the book, I’m pleased I paid close attention as they contained information vital to the story. Overall this was a very satisfying and enjoyable read, of the side characters I liked Fang Unit the best.
I rather enjoyed this book, I loved that it was a standalone book so there was no cliffhanger to break your heart at the end, although this book did plenty of that. I liked Rynna as despite everything the weaving had thrown at her she was still standing, still fighting even if she doesn’t know why. I liked both Kaelith and Fenn, they both complimented Rynna in different ways but out of the two Kaelith was my favourite. Yes he was a monster but he was her monster, my heart did break for him a little bit with what he went through. I liked the flashes of Rynna’s other missions scattered throughout the book, I’m pleased I paid close attention as they contained information vital to the story. Overall this was a very satisfying and enjoyable read, of the side characters I liked Fang Unit the best.
December 25, 2025
Usually I do not go for Romantasy stand alone novels because I always feel like it’s always a rush to wrap things up at the end. I did not feel this way with this one. The plot steadily was constantly moving toward the end goal which made this a well rounded story. I also felt this was a very good balance between plot and romance, like the romance was very well contributing to the plot in a way. Another thing I enjoyed about this story was that the overall feel of the world was very much fantasy/sci fi/dystopian all rolled into one which I think is something at really sets this book apart from others in my head. Overall I thought this was a well done debut novel.
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 27, 2025I received this book as an ARC review and I am SO glad I did!!! Perne builds an incredible world building on with each step in the story.
The characters are each so very unique and quirky in their own way. The chemistry? Oh, you just wait until you meet Rynna, Fen and Kae.
If you like enemies to lovers, read this.
Forced proximity, go ahead and grab this.
Sssharp tongued hottie with all the moves, oh yeah.
Brooding, bonding, falling in love. On repeat, Literally.
Once I got to the "ohh" point in the book, when it hit me in the feels all I wanted to do was reach thru my kindle app and hug Rynna. This is definitely one of those books that will pull at your heart strings while making you blush a page later. Absolute gem of a read!
The characters are each so very unique and quirky in their own way. The chemistry? Oh, you just wait until you meet Rynna, Fen and Kae.
If you like enemies to lovers, read this.
Forced proximity, go ahead and grab this.
Sssharp tongued hottie with all the moves, oh yeah.
Brooding, bonding, falling in love. On repeat, Literally.
Once I got to the "ohh" point in the book, when it hit me in the feels all I wanted to do was reach thru my kindle app and hug Rynna. This is definitely one of those books that will pull at your heart strings while making you blush a page later. Absolute gem of a read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ashes of a Shattered Soul was my second ARC, and I absolutely loved it. The fantasy world pulled me in immediately, and Rynna is such a badass FMC; I couldn’t get enough of her strength and resilience. The why-choose dynamic with Fenn and Kaelith, both deliciously morally grey, added so much tension and depth to the story. I’m really hoping this isn’t the end for them, because I’m not ready to say goodbye to Fenn, Kaelith, and Rynna yet. I’ll be eagerly waiting for a sequel.
December 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ashes of a Shattered Soul by Alisa Perne
I need to start this by saying: I do not read dark romance. It’s just never been my genre.
And yet… this book completely blindsided me.
Ashes of a Shattered Soul is dark, yes but more than that, it’s raw, emotional, and painfully human. This story isn’t built on shock value or romance for romance’s sake. It’s about grief, rage, survival, and what happens when someone who is already broken is forced to keep going anyway.The FMC felt real in a way that’s hard to explain without spoiling anything. She’s not polished or instantly likable she’s fractured, angry, and carrying more weight than anyone should. Watching her navigate a world filled with magic that feels more cursed than beautiful was one of the most compelling parts of the book. The fantasy elements are dark and atmospheric, adding to the constant sense of tension and unease.The romance is slow, intense, and earned. It simmers beneath the surface, tangled up with pain and trust issues, and never once felt forced. Every interaction mattered. Every moment carried emotional weight. This isn’t a light or fluffy love story it’s one built in the ashes of trauma and choice.What surprised me most was how emotionally heavy this book is. It doesn’t rush healing or pretend love fixes everything. The writing allows space for anger, grief, and messy survival, which made the story hit harder and feel more authentic.
If you enjoy:
• Dark romantasy with emotional depth
• Morally gray characters
• Slow-burn romance that actually hurts
• Gothic, moody atmospheres
• Stories about broken people finding strength
…this book is absolutely worth your time.
Thank you to Alisa Perne for allowing me to read this early. It was an honor, and I’m genuinely glad I stepped outside my comfort zone for this one. Please go support this author this story deserves to be read and talked about.This book doesn’t try to be comfortable. It dares you to feel.
Ashes of a Shattered Soul by Alisa Perne
I need to start this by saying: I do not read dark romance. It’s just never been my genre.
And yet… this book completely blindsided me.
Ashes of a Shattered Soul is dark, yes but more than that, it’s raw, emotional, and painfully human. This story isn’t built on shock value or romance for romance’s sake. It’s about grief, rage, survival, and what happens when someone who is already broken is forced to keep going anyway.The FMC felt real in a way that’s hard to explain without spoiling anything. She’s not polished or instantly likable she’s fractured, angry, and carrying more weight than anyone should. Watching her navigate a world filled with magic that feels more cursed than beautiful was one of the most compelling parts of the book. The fantasy elements are dark and atmospheric, adding to the constant sense of tension and unease.The romance is slow, intense, and earned. It simmers beneath the surface, tangled up with pain and trust issues, and never once felt forced. Every interaction mattered. Every moment carried emotional weight. This isn’t a light or fluffy love story it’s one built in the ashes of trauma and choice.What surprised me most was how emotionally heavy this book is. It doesn’t rush healing or pretend love fixes everything. The writing allows space for anger, grief, and messy survival, which made the story hit harder and feel more authentic.
If you enjoy:
• Dark romantasy with emotional depth
• Morally gray characters
• Slow-burn romance that actually hurts
• Gothic, moody atmospheres
• Stories about broken people finding strength
…this book is absolutely worth your time.
Thank you to Alisa Perne for allowing me to read this early. It was an honor, and I’m genuinely glad I stepped outside my comfort zone for this one. Please go support this author this story deserves to be read and talked about.This book doesn’t try to be comfortable. It dares you to feel.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book grabbed my heart, set it on fire, hurled it into the cosmos, and then had the audacity to hand it back to me scarred, soot stained, and grateful.
The grief? Devastatingly beautiful. The rage? World ending and earned. The survival? Written with such care and intensity that you feel every scar, every choice, every moment she refuses to break.
This is dark, atmospheric romantasy at its finest. Heavy with loss, steeped in fury, and humming with immortal exhaustion.
And let’s talk about the tension because GIRL. CAN. WRITE. SPICE. The slow burn, the ache, the buildup that has you screaming internally before the payoff lands exactly where it should. No wasted heat. No empty scenes. Just perfectly earned, emotionally loaded moments that hit hard.
The reincarnation twist? Inspired. Two men, one shattered soul, lifetimes of love and loss colliding into pure emotional arson. Love triangle? Please. This is a controlled burn that absolutely gets out of hand.
Bonus points for a foul mouthed immortal disaster who is so tired, a cinnamon roll commander I would protect with my life (and also absolutely understand why she shouldn’t touch), and a villain that makes you go “…okay but hear me out.”
The ending is deeply satisfying for a standalone, which I appreciate, but I am also clutching my chest, staring into the distance, wishing there was more.
I cannot wait to see what this author does next because if this is the bar? I’m here for it!
The grief? Devastatingly beautiful. The rage? World ending and earned. The survival? Written with such care and intensity that you feel every scar, every choice, every moment she refuses to break.
This is dark, atmospheric romantasy at its finest. Heavy with loss, steeped in fury, and humming with immortal exhaustion.
And let’s talk about the tension because GIRL. CAN. WRITE. SPICE. The slow burn, the ache, the buildup that has you screaming internally before the payoff lands exactly where it should. No wasted heat. No empty scenes. Just perfectly earned, emotionally loaded moments that hit hard.
The reincarnation twist? Inspired. Two men, one shattered soul, lifetimes of love and loss colliding into pure emotional arson. Love triangle? Please. This is a controlled burn that absolutely gets out of hand.
Bonus points for a foul mouthed immortal disaster who is so tired, a cinnamon roll commander I would protect with my life (and also absolutely understand why she shouldn’t touch), and a villain that makes you go “…okay but hear me out.”
The ending is deeply satisfying for a standalone, which I appreciate, but I am also clutching my chest, staring into the distance, wishing there was more.
I cannot wait to see what this author does next because if this is the bar? I’m here for it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have read a few arcs before this one. I had a little bit of diffuse getting into it but once I did I found it very interesting! Rynna is a baddie fmc which I love! This is a why choose, which i am always down for. I was a bit worried because I was a little confused at the beginning but I kept reading and once I got the basic information it was smooth sailing.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am absolutely blown away by this book. I was really hesitant about starting this because the synopsis didn't really describe much, but man was this fantastic. Despite how much I dislike time jumps, they were done so well in this book that I was looking forward to see how everything was going to come together.
Rynna is the equivalent of a mercenary sent by fate to alter the course of life and death at the end of the world. She doesn't retain her memories every time she is sent to a new world, just vague ideas that it has happened before. After appearing in a new world, she finds herself taking care of a dying man after making the mistake of helping him out. Their banter is top notch and I loved seeing the snark get stronger and stronger as Rynna and Kae continued to pretend like there wasn't something happening between them. When Fenn is introduced to the mix, the dry humor just continued to get better.
There were so many twists and turns in this book I really had no idea how everything was going to connect. There was so much thought and planning that went in to all the time jumps and interpersonal connections. This honestly was such a joy to read because I have never read anything like it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alisa Perne for the free eARC.
Rynna is the equivalent of a mercenary sent by fate to alter the course of life and death at the end of the world. She doesn't retain her memories every time she is sent to a new world, just vague ideas that it has happened before. After appearing in a new world, she finds herself taking care of a dying man after making the mistake of helping him out. Their banter is top notch and I loved seeing the snark get stronger and stronger as Rynna and Kae continued to pretend like there wasn't something happening between them. When Fenn is introduced to the mix, the dry humor just continued to get better.
There were so many twists and turns in this book I really had no idea how everything was going to connect. There was so much thought and planning that went in to all the time jumps and interpersonal connections. This honestly was such a joy to read because I have never read anything like it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alisa Perne for the free eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
DNF at 30%.
No one's more disappointed than me by this rating. Ashes of a Shattered Soul was one of my most anticipated arcs. Before starting this series, I actually had two other arcs lined up, but I chose this one first because the trope intrigued me. The author teased: what if your fated mate was killed and his soul divided into two?
From that premise, I expected a romance unlike any other, I mean full of angst, moral dilemmas, and heartbreaking searching for love. It’s been a long time since I read reverse harem or even menage, so imagine my disappointment when this book failed to pull me back into the Rh community *cries*.
While the writing itself is undoubtedly beautiful, the prologue was confusing. It blended fantasy and sci-fi elements without any prior warning. As far as I remember, the author never mentioned sci-fi anywhere in the form or trope map. I felt tricked. I signed up for this knowing it was marketed as romantasy. I did NOT want a space adventure.
The magic system is also confusing. The glossary did little to help me understand the world, ANDDD what world? I genuinely can’t tell you anything about it!!!
We have Rynna, a dragon shifter with an asshole father. He sends her on a suicide mission, where she ends up captured, tortured, and exploited for her magic. Her fated mate is killed, and she feels it when their bond is destroyed.
How? Only the Weaving knows.
Then she’s thrown into another world: alive, confused, and free.
How? Only the Weaving knows.
She meets Kaelith in this new world, a snake shifter with purple eyes and a mouth that just won’t shut up. The way Kaelith constantly calls her "woman" annoyed the hell out of me. I don’t know if this is meant to be teasing in Western culture (I’m Asian), but I really didn’t like it. Nicknames can be cute, but "woman this, woman that" was just ... No??? Still, I tried to ignote it because he’s clearly written as the kind of character who knows he’s attractive and uses it as a weapon. I thought, okay! maybe this is my golden retriever MMC.
But then chapter after chapter passed, and we learned NOTHING about him.
What was he doing before he met Rynna?Who was he besides an orphan? Where did he live previously?
Only the Weaving knows.
What could have been a cute meet-cute quickly faded when the author randomly threw in a two week time skip. There’s a one bed trope, but no, we don’t even get the first night moment (and yes, I'm screaming internally). Suddenly, they’re comfortable with each other, flirting like Romeo and Juliet, and casually doing jobs in a village they never bother questioning despite it somehow surviving in the middle of a "war".
What war, you ask? Only the Weaving knows.
I will admit, the smut was good. My jaw literally dropped when Rynna claimed Kaeliyh with teeth and blood. It was messy, like hohoho ferally messy. One of the hottest bonding scenes I’ve ever read. That is, until I realized that by doing this, Kaelith’s life is now tied to hers. If she dies, he dies too. You’d think she would tell him that. Nope.
Why didn’t Rynna tell him? Only the Weaving knows.
Battle is coming. Swords flying. Fire burning.
Who’s the enemy? Only the Weaving knows.
There’s no explanation. No buildup. Suddenly, a mysterious being shows up and says, oh no, don’t kill Rynna and Kaelith, they’ll be useful! Then they go to war. And ofc they win because they're main characters.
And guess what? Time skip, two years later.
I have no words. I squinted my way through pages of battle scenes, completely clueless about the motive, only for it to end like THAT?
To make things even more complicated, the Weaving, whatever the hell it is, suddenly decides that Rynna’s job in this unnamed world is done. Her memory is erased. She vanishes, travels to the past, meets the Four Horsemen, kills humans, burns a village, and hooks up with the personification of Death.
Why? Only the Weaving knows.
Look, I’m no stranger to morally grey characters. But you can’t expect me to root for anyone when I don’t even understand their reasoning. It’s not even a case of "oh, lalala they’re just evil!" These characters literally just show up with ZERO background.
Whatever. Angway, the flashback ends.
And then, surprise!, another time skip. This time, FIFTY years later.
At this point, I was already sighing because what the hell am I even reading? I knew this book was heading straight for my DNF pile when the words started blurring together, bcs now Rynna is in another world. She’s already in a new place, with new people, and there’s still no proper introduction.
WHAT???
There, she meets Fenn, a mysterious stranger with a half blind eyewhich could have been interesting. A mentor figure with a disability? Yes yes, gimme! Except Rynna decided to fucks him within minutes of meeting him. That’s not banter. That’s just the worst foreplay I’ve ever read???
I stupidly thought there would be explanations later, but it feels like the author wanted readers to just vibe with Rynna and go along for the ride. On top of that, there are typos from the early pages. I usually don’t care about typos, you’ll almost never see me criticize that in my reviews. My English is average at best, and I still struggle with tense sometimes. So if I notice them, that says a lot.
By chapter 19, I had to quit. I realized I didn’t understand anything, not the magic system, not the relationships, not Rynna’s motivation. I don’t understand her captivity, her father, or why any of this matters. Kaelith is also gone. There was nothing left to hold my attention.
I might have pushed through if this book were around 400 pages, which is already standard for romantasy. But at over 700 pages? I’m sorry, I don’t have the patience or the time to solve this puzzle.
No one's more disappointed than me by this rating. Ashes of a Shattered Soul was one of my most anticipated arcs. Before starting this series, I actually had two other arcs lined up, but I chose this one first because the trope intrigued me. The author teased: what if your fated mate was killed and his soul divided into two?
From that premise, I expected a romance unlike any other, I mean full of angst, moral dilemmas, and heartbreaking searching for love. It’s been a long time since I read reverse harem or even menage, so imagine my disappointment when this book failed to pull me back into the Rh community *cries*.
While the writing itself is undoubtedly beautiful, the prologue was confusing. It blended fantasy and sci-fi elements without any prior warning. As far as I remember, the author never mentioned sci-fi anywhere in the form or trope map. I felt tricked. I signed up for this knowing it was marketed as romantasy. I did NOT want a space adventure.
The magic system is also confusing. The glossary did little to help me understand the world, ANDDD what world? I genuinely can’t tell you anything about it!!!
We have Rynna, a dragon shifter with an asshole father. He sends her on a suicide mission, where she ends up captured, tortured, and exploited for her magic. Her fated mate is killed, and she feels it when their bond is destroyed.
How? Only the Weaving knows.
Then she’s thrown into another world: alive, confused, and free.
How? Only the Weaving knows.
She meets Kaelith in this new world, a snake shifter with purple eyes and a mouth that just won’t shut up. The way Kaelith constantly calls her "woman" annoyed the hell out of me. I don’t know if this is meant to be teasing in Western culture (I’m Asian), but I really didn’t like it. Nicknames can be cute, but "woman this, woman that" was just ... No??? Still, I tried to ignote it because he’s clearly written as the kind of character who knows he’s attractive and uses it as a weapon. I thought, okay! maybe this is my golden retriever MMC.
But then chapter after chapter passed, and we learned NOTHING about him.
What was he doing before he met Rynna?Who was he besides an orphan? Where did he live previously?
Only the Weaving knows.
What could have been a cute meet-cute quickly faded when the author randomly threw in a two week time skip. There’s a one bed trope, but no, we don’t even get the first night moment (and yes, I'm screaming internally). Suddenly, they’re comfortable with each other, flirting like Romeo and Juliet, and casually doing jobs in a village they never bother questioning despite it somehow surviving in the middle of a "war".
What war, you ask? Only the Weaving knows.
I will admit, the smut was good. My jaw literally dropped when Rynna claimed Kaeliyh with teeth and blood. It was messy, like hohoho ferally messy. One of the hottest bonding scenes I’ve ever read. That is, until I realized that by doing this, Kaelith’s life is now tied to hers. If she dies, he dies too. You’d think she would tell him that. Nope.
Why didn’t Rynna tell him? Only the Weaving knows.
Battle is coming. Swords flying. Fire burning.
Who’s the enemy? Only the Weaving knows.
There’s no explanation. No buildup. Suddenly, a mysterious being shows up and says, oh no, don’t kill Rynna and Kaelith, they’ll be useful! Then they go to war. And ofc they win because they're main characters.
And guess what? Time skip, two years later.
I have no words. I squinted my way through pages of battle scenes, completely clueless about the motive, only for it to end like THAT?
To make things even more complicated, the Weaving, whatever the hell it is, suddenly decides that Rynna’s job in this unnamed world is done. Her memory is erased. She vanishes, travels to the past, meets the Four Horsemen, kills humans, burns a village, and hooks up with the personification of Death.
Why? Only the Weaving knows.
Look, I’m no stranger to morally grey characters. But you can’t expect me to root for anyone when I don’t even understand their reasoning. It’s not even a case of "oh, lalala they’re just evil!" These characters literally just show up with ZERO background.
Whatever. Angway, the flashback ends.
And then, surprise!, another time skip. This time, FIFTY years later.
At this point, I was already sighing because what the hell am I even reading? I knew this book was heading straight for my DNF pile when the words started blurring together, bcs now Rynna is in another world. She’s already in a new place, with new people, and there’s still no proper introduction.
WHAT???
There, she meets Fenn, a mysterious stranger with a half blind eyewhich could have been interesting. A mentor figure with a disability? Yes yes, gimme! Except Rynna decided to fucks him within minutes of meeting him. That’s not banter. That’s just the worst foreplay I’ve ever read???
I stupidly thought there would be explanations later, but it feels like the author wanted readers to just vibe with Rynna and go along for the ride. On top of that, there are typos from the early pages. I usually don’t care about typos, you’ll almost never see me criticize that in my reviews. My English is average at best, and I still struggle with tense sometimes. So if I notice them, that says a lot.
By chapter 19, I had to quit. I realized I didn’t understand anything, not the magic system, not the relationships, not Rynna’s motivation. I don’t understand her captivity, her father, or why any of this matters. Kaelith is also gone. There was nothing left to hold my attention.
I might have pushed through if this book were around 400 pages, which is already standard for romantasy. But at over 700 pages? I’m sorry, I don’t have the patience or the time to solve this puzzle.
February 1, 2026
Wow! What a crazy ride! Love the originality in this fantasy! So different and a very individual type of book!! Would definitely recommend 🥰 slow start and I was a little confused but don’t give in, it does make sense later on and oeuvres together so well!
2026-books
January 27, 2026Ashes of a Shattered Soul by Alisa Pernea is an emotionally heavy, character-driven read centered on trauma, healing, and resilience. The romance is intense and includes open-door, emotionally charged spice that feels earned and purposeful. Dark, immersive, and deeply felt — this one stays with you.
Review of advance copy received from Author
this book was something else I cried, I laughed, I was at a loss for so long trying to read this book. the plot and story between the characters was one of the most heart-wrenching but amazing story to read. honestly felt as though I was inside the story living it with them.
January 10, 2026
Wow… just wow. This book was an insane ride. This is a fantasy book with a dollop of romance and a dash of smut. It takes a minute to really figure out what’s going on, and it leaves a lot up for interpretation which I found interesting.
It’s a multi timeline following Rynna the FMC over the course of millennia. She meets Kaelith and then is forced to leave him for a while. 50 years go by and she sees him again but her life is very different and she doesn’t initially remember him. My only complaint about this book is, a lot happens to Kaelith during those 50 years, and then also between their reacquaintance and when they’re able to start repairing their relationship, that isn’t explained very well. While I like the idea of leaving things up for interpretation, I wish that had been explained in more detail.
This book was so well written and the storyline was unique and captivating. I absolutely recommend it for people who like a strong FMC, battles, found family, and monsters.
It’s a multi timeline following Rynna the FMC over the course of millennia. She meets Kaelith and then is forced to leave him for a while. 50 years go by and she sees him again but her life is very different and she doesn’t initially remember him. My only complaint about this book is, a lot happens to Kaelith during those 50 years, and then also between their reacquaintance and when they’re able to start repairing their relationship, that isn’t explained very well. While I like the idea of leaving things up for interpretation, I wish that had been explained in more detail.
This book was so well written and the storyline was unique and captivating. I absolutely recommend it for people who like a strong FMC, battles, found family, and monsters.
Review of advance copy received from Autor
I got this book as an ARC by the amazing author Alisa Perne.
This book follows the story of Rynna and her walk, through different worlds and different timelines and different lives.
It's a romanticy with a third person pov with multiple love interests.
The story is heartbreaking and when you get to that specific point of her story, you will want to hug and cuddle Rynna.
Packed with action, romance, some blood and gore and an amazing plot, this book is well worth the pre-order now or buy when it comes out on the 26th of February.
I loved reading this book and was super impressed by the story.
4.5 ⭐
This book follows the story of Rynna and her walk, through different worlds and different timelines and different lives.
It's a romanticy with a third person pov with multiple love interests.
The story is heartbreaking and when you get to that specific point of her story, you will want to hug and cuddle Rynna.
Packed with action, romance, some blood and gore and an amazing plot, this book is well worth the pre-order now or buy when it comes out on the 26th of February.
I loved reading this book and was super impressed by the story.
4.5 ⭐
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The writing is all over the place. The characters are dull and I am completely confused. I expected a dark fantasy/dark romance book, but even the prologue was more sci-fi than I would have liked.
I am not really interested how Rynna goes on from Chapter Four forward.
More than 1 star can't be given from me.
I am not really interested how Rynna goes on from Chapter Four forward.
More than 1 star can't be given from me.
February 2, 2026
I read this as an ARC from the author and I am grateful to have received it. Let me start by saying this book is full of world building, and main character building. I enjoyed her fierceness and willingness to fight for what is right in the worlds she inhabits.
The imagery invoked set my mind off into stars, lush covered landscapes, small communities and larger ships. This is a hefty book though at 581 pages.
There are several magic systems that need more flushing out and it was a bit confusing with the back and forth in time.
With this said, I read this via Book Funnel and I believe some of the confusion would have been solved if the chapter headings and/or separations explained where we were, before of after the burn etc.
The imagery invoked set my mind off into stars, lush covered landscapes, small communities and larger ships. This is a hefty book though at 581 pages.
There are several magic systems that need more flushing out and it was a bit confusing with the back and forth in time.
With this said, I read this via Book Funnel and I believe some of the confusion would have been solved if the chapter headings and/or separations explained where we were, before of after the burn etc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"𝙷𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚗, 𝚑𝚎'𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚘𝚛𝚗 𝚏𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚢 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝. 𝚃𝚠𝚘 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜. 𝙰 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚘 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚝𝚘𝚛: 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚛."
Holy hell, y'all. My heart? Ripped from my chest. My soul? Destroyed. I was blessed with this ARC by Alisa Perne, and when I say I am changed forever, I truly mean it. 🥲
This is a DOOZY of a book. It's thick, but it's so hard to put down. As a dark romantasy lover, I absolutely ate it up. Plus it's a standalone, so no stressing about waiting for the next installment. 🙏
We have our FMC, Rynna (who is one of the coolest, most bad@$$ FMCs I've encountered), and two super hot shifter MMCs. Love triangle turned why choose? 🥵 YES PLEASE. Some of the other awesome tropes this book includes are:
✨ Forbidden love
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Duty vs. love
✨ She tends his wounds
✨ He waits 50 years for her 🥺
Holy hell, y'all. My heart? Ripped from my chest. My soul? Destroyed. I was blessed with this ARC by Alisa Perne, and when I say I am changed forever, I truly mean it. 🥲
This is a DOOZY of a book. It's thick, but it's so hard to put down. As a dark romantasy lover, I absolutely ate it up. Plus it's a standalone, so no stressing about waiting for the next installment. 🙏
We have our FMC, Rynna (who is one of the coolest, most bad@$$ FMCs I've encountered), and two super hot shifter MMCs. Love triangle turned why choose? 🥵 YES PLEASE. Some of the other awesome tropes this book includes are:
✨ Forbidden love
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Duty vs. love
✨ She tends his wounds
✨ He waits 50 years for her 🥺
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ashes of a Shattered Soul took off from page one. It’s action packed, full of magic, and shapeshifters.
The story follows Rynna as she tries to save each world she is catapulted to from total destruction. All the while she struggles with memory loss and flash backs of her past. She is one tough bad ass! On one world she falls in love with a Kaelith who is a shapeshifter. In the next world fifty years later she falls in love with Finn. Not to give anything away they all three end up together at some point and the banter between them is amusing, spicy, and so much more.
The story follows Rynna as she tries to save each world she is catapulted to from total destruction. All the while she struggles with memory loss and flash backs of her past. She is one tough bad ass! On one world she falls in love with a Kaelith who is a shapeshifter. In the next world fifty years later she falls in love with Finn. Not to give anything away they all three end up together at some point and the banter between them is amusing, spicy, and so much more.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Emotional damage, banter for days and spice to melt your kindle. Rynna and her guys go through it all. This book has world jumping, action, elemental powers and shifters with *special* appendages.
The story takes you to Rynna's past in pieces while following her current timelines she exists in. The way the author chose to jump back in time and then forward to current events flowed so well. I absolutely LOVED the banter. And the spice was spicing HARD. You need a new definition for DP with what happened here. And when snakes and surprise knotting enter the chat, just go touch alllll of the grass.
I cannot recommend this book enough. Just be prepared to leak tears from your eyes and your thighs😏
The story takes you to Rynna's past in pieces while following her current timelines she exists in. The way the author chose to jump back in time and then forward to current events flowed so well. I absolutely LOVED the banter. And the spice was spicing HARD. You need a new definition for DP with what happened here. And when snakes and surprise knotting enter the chat, just go touch alllll of the grass.
I cannot recommend this book enough. Just be prepared to leak tears from your eyes and your thighs😏
December 20, 2025
The story line was interesting a well rounded debut novel ☺️
Things I really enjoyed: the smut was good, and the banter was fun and witty!!! I also really enjoyed the fmc she was badass and likeable!! Very beautiful writing style - full of descriptive wording and metaphors.
I personally would have liked too see some more world building. The magic system was also very confusing. I had to reference back a lot to the glossary, because I wasn’t able to keep up with understanding what “hollow born” or “the source” and “the reach” were referencing. It was very hard to establish the time period or world they were in, as well as what was going on from the very beginning. I was getting lost a lot. The relationships were also established very fast with the instalove effect which can be hard to fan girl over.
Overall I think this author has good potential and the book was unique!
Things I really enjoyed: the smut was good, and the banter was fun and witty!!! I also really enjoyed the fmc she was badass and likeable!! Very beautiful writing style - full of descriptive wording and metaphors.
I personally would have liked too see some more world building. The magic system was also very confusing. I had to reference back a lot to the glossary, because I wasn’t able to keep up with understanding what “hollow born” or “the source” and “the reach” were referencing. It was very hard to establish the time period or world they were in, as well as what was going on from the very beginning. I was getting lost a lot. The relationships were also established very fast with the instalove effect which can be hard to fan girl over.
Overall I think this author has good potential and the book was unique!
February 4, 2026
this book had a bunch of ups and downs. the first half was a bit slower to get through , but the last bit i went though pretty quickly. i loved that it had naruto themes in it and mates. the multiple different lives and beginning of the book was a bit confusing, but towards the end was better and i understood. i didn’t care for the jumping back and forth between times and lives , THAT confused me the most. but ultimately i loved the story and rynna was such a great fmc 🥹🤭
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A slow-burning debut that rewards your patience!
This was my second ARC read, and I am so glad I stuck with this book. If you’re looking for a badass, resilient mortal FMC, Rynna is exactly that. She is a moral gray character done right. Strong, capable, and her amnesia arc is handled with so much care.
The heart of the book for me was the dynamic between Fenn and Kaelith. You get the best of both worlds here: «the monster villain» vs «The Golden Retriever Commander». Their banter is witty, fun, and kept me turning the pages. And for those who enjoy a lot of heat, the spicy scenes are well-written and actually move the narrative forward rather than just being there for the sake of it.
A note for new readers: The beginning can be a bit confusing. It starts with a sci-fi feel, and the book jumps between the past and the future, which felt confusing at first. However, by the end, I realized exactly why those time jumps were necessary!
While the magic system takes a while to click, and the book is a hefty 700+ pages (it could have easily been a duology), but the payoff is worth it.
I almost DNF’d this, but the ending wrapped everything up so beautifully that I actually found myself crying. It’s a slow burn, and the romances move at different speeds—one felt a bit fast while the other was a true test of patience. But it all makes sense in the final act. Definitely a solid debut!
This was my second ARC read, and I am so glad I stuck with this book. If you’re looking for a badass, resilient mortal FMC, Rynna is exactly that. She is a moral gray character done right. Strong, capable, and her amnesia arc is handled with so much care.
The heart of the book for me was the dynamic between Fenn and Kaelith. You get the best of both worlds here: «the monster villain» vs «The Golden Retriever Commander». Their banter is witty, fun, and kept me turning the pages. And for those who enjoy a lot of heat, the spicy scenes are well-written and actually move the narrative forward rather than just being there for the sake of it.
A note for new readers: The beginning can be a bit confusing. It starts with a sci-fi feel, and the book jumps between the past and the future, which felt confusing at first. However, by the end, I realized exactly why those time jumps were necessary!
While the magic system takes a while to click, and the book is a hefty 700+ pages (it could have easily been a duology), but the payoff is worth it.
I almost DNF’d this, but the ending wrapped everything up so beautifully that I actually found myself crying. It’s a slow burn, and the romances move at different speeds—one felt a bit fast while the other was a true test of patience. But it all makes sense in the final act. Definitely a solid debut!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Gods this was a FANTASTIC read - I was lucky enough to get offered an ARC copy - and definitely cannot wait for any potential sequels if we get more of her and their story down the line.
Sci-fi, immortals, vampires, shifters - dragon, snake, and wolf -, different timelines, alien/god-tier entities, magic and mythology, an epic story/plot, fantastic characters and friends, connections you don't expect, and so much more - there's SOOO much in this and it's soo good.
Also, the SPICE - holy f the spice is fantastic, and Rynna is one heck of a badass - golden swords, fangs, claws, immortal with a long and storied history of killing, finally finding not just one, but two men that are the perfect fit to the missing pieces of her soul - and they're all kinds of fun in their own ways too - shifters, strong, skilled in magic - they're so good :D
The jumping between lives was a little bit disconcerting at times, but I think you had to go that route to make everything make sense without learning too much too soon (if the story had just played out chronologically front to back) - the jumping around reveals things at just the right pace, though you don't really realize that until very near the end of the book.
I still definitely have questions about some of the powers that be and all - what exactly the Weaving is, how it has the control over her that is does and can send her all over to new planets and always as herself and all but without memories isn't really explained, and there's a LOT of her distant past that could be really cool to get into beyond the extremely brief glimpses we get from the flashback/other Mission scenes/chapters - her father/family/home world, what Wise Ones are, why they disappeared/died off if she sealed the Wraith/Outsiders away, etc, her time as part of the Four Horsemen, or with Josh/Joshua (is that supposed to have been Jesus what with how his story ends? or is there more to it), I could go on - the flashbacks and chapters and scenes of the various earlier Missions (or intervening ones) are definitely a bit confusing/disconcerting until you figure out what's going on, but many of them contain information VITAL to understanding Rynna and the story and all, who she is, some of her past, etc.
The only small complaint I might have is that some of the early scenes with Fenn and Kae seem to be a bit rushed - we get a LOT of time skips with Kae where their relationship just kinda gets fast-forwarded each time to a new level, but I also get that with the page count being over 700 pages, that would have only made it even higher and not necessarily added much plotwise, but it would have been nice to see their relationships build up and all a bit more organically, but it wasn't bad. I get why it was cut down, but part of the fun of romantasy is that build up and the cute scenes and I would have LOVED to get to see more - with both Fenn and with Kae.
The world-building is FANTASTIC - we get glimpses of at least a couple time period scenes on Earth plus at least 2-3 major windows of time/scenes on the planet where the main plot is taking place, plus the other random bits we get from her original life and all. Would have been cool to see a bit more of the kinda sci-fi elements that were kinda teased but never really expanded upon, but it also fits since outside of the Weaving and her original life scene and all, the story seemingly takes place in more of a fantasy setting - magic and shifters rather than tech allowing telporting/warping, or harnessing of elements, etc.
Definitely would recommend, and definitely planning on checking out any other books that the author has written that catch my interest now. I know it's a standalone, but I *REALLY* hope that she ends up giving us a series from this, or at least other books/stories in the same universe/with the same characters.
Sci-fi, immortals, vampires, shifters - dragon, snake, and wolf -, different timelines, alien/god-tier entities, magic and mythology, an epic story/plot, fantastic characters and friends, connections you don't expect, and so much more - there's SOOO much in this and it's soo good.
Also, the SPICE - holy f the spice is fantastic, and Rynna is one heck of a badass - golden swords, fangs, claws, immortal with a long and storied history of killing, finally finding not just one, but two men that are the perfect fit to the missing pieces of her soul - and they're all kinds of fun in their own ways too - shifters, strong, skilled in magic - they're so good :D
The jumping between lives was a little bit disconcerting at times, but I think you had to go that route to make everything make sense without learning too much too soon (if the story had just played out chronologically front to back) - the jumping around reveals things at just the right pace, though you don't really realize that until very near the end of the book.
I still definitely have questions about some of the powers that be and all - what exactly the Weaving is, how it has the control over her that is does and can send her all over to new planets and always as herself and all but without memories isn't really explained, and there's a LOT of her distant past that could be really cool to get into beyond the extremely brief glimpses we get from the flashback/other Mission scenes/chapters - her father/family/home world, what Wise Ones are, why they disappeared/died off if she sealed the Wraith/Outsiders away, etc, her time as part of the Four Horsemen, or with Josh/Joshua (is that supposed to have been Jesus what with how his story ends? or is there more to it), I could go on - the flashbacks and chapters and scenes of the various earlier Missions (or intervening ones) are definitely a bit confusing/disconcerting until you figure out what's going on, but many of them contain information VITAL to understanding Rynna and the story and all, who she is, some of her past, etc.
The only small complaint I might have is that some of the early scenes with Fenn and Kae seem to be a bit rushed - we get a LOT of time skips with Kae where their relationship just kinda gets fast-forwarded each time to a new level, but I also get that with the page count being over 700 pages, that would have only made it even higher and not necessarily added much plotwise, but it would have been nice to see their relationships build up and all a bit more organically, but it wasn't bad. I get why it was cut down, but part of the fun of romantasy is that build up and the cute scenes and I would have LOVED to get to see more - with both Fenn and with Kae.
The world-building is FANTASTIC - we get glimpses of at least a couple time period scenes on Earth plus at least 2-3 major windows of time/scenes on the planet where the main plot is taking place, plus the other random bits we get from her original life and all. Would have been cool to see a bit more of the kinda sci-fi elements that were kinda teased but never really expanded upon, but it also fits since outside of the Weaving and her original life scene and all, the story seemingly takes place in more of a fantasy setting - magic and shifters rather than tech allowing telporting/warping, or harnessing of elements, etc.
Definitely would recommend, and definitely planning on checking out any other books that the author has written that catch my interest now. I know it's a standalone, but I *REALLY* hope that she ends up giving us a series from this, or at least other books/stories in the same universe/with the same characters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the first ARC that I get to read and review (YAY! Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for an eARC!), so I'm going to try to summarize my thoughts the best I can.
The writing style of the author is descriptive and beautiful. Some scenes were really immersive and I could picture and, in a way, feel part of the story. I thought that the plot and the characters were interesting and unique. It's different from the current "Romantasy template". There is spice but it doesn't overshadow the plot. It kept me engaged and wondering what will happen next (and usually it's easy for me to predict where the story will go). There are some sci-fi elements and time jumps that shift completely the setting, following only Rynna's (FMC) story. Through the different missions and, in a way, lives (due to her amnesia) the reader can see different aspects of her character. She is not shown as this perfect and good heroine, there are complexities and nuances that we cannot completely understand to justify her actions. I enjoyed how strong she was, that she is not defenceless or in need of training. She didn't try to conform to anyone's expectations, just to blend enough in the places she found herself. She knows that her time in each place is limited and tries to make the most of it. There are several love interests and she doesn't stop herself from enjoying their company, which can feel a little insta love when it comes to the MMCs.
Speaking of the MMCs... Snake shifter and wolf shifter, how can she choose?! Kae and Fenn are fun to be around, and I'm glad that she doesn't. They are delicious, each one plays a role and in a way completes the trio. The chemistry is palpable.
Fang Unit was also cool and I enjoyed their interactions very much. They felt like found family and I'm glad that we got to know their quirky personalities.
The ending was truly heart wrenching! And I would've been satisfied with it even without the epilogue, but that just makes it even better! Overall I enjoyed the novel and I will definitely read other books by this author.
With this said, there are a few reasons why this is not a 5 star read for me. The continuous time jumps were a bit confusing, the author introduced secondary characters and information and I kept waiting for them to make sense or appear towards the end but they didn't. I kept asking myself why Rynna is not trying to find answers, and while I understand that going on 892 missions could have pushed her to just resignate and live in the present, I think that it would help the reader understand the impact of certain situations better if there was more context and information. I wanted to learn more about her powers and being both a dragon shifter and a vampire. There was little information about Kaelith and his initial purpose. At times communication between the main characters regarding serious topics (don't want to spoil anything so I'm not giving details) felt like it was missing. Until around 30% of the book I had a difficult time following.
There was a religious hint that I disliked. In one of her missions, set in a desert, there is a character named Josh, who was a prophet. He was crucified and she was pulled out by the Weaving. The similarities with Jesus are a lot and to me this is completely unnecessary.
Lastly, I suppose that the ARC wasn't fully polished and edited due to some typos and some character names changing mid action (Calli became Rhea). Sadly, this contributed to my confusion and pulled me out of the story.
The writing style of the author is descriptive and beautiful. Some scenes were really immersive and I could picture and, in a way, feel part of the story. I thought that the plot and the characters were interesting and unique. It's different from the current "Romantasy template". There is spice but it doesn't overshadow the plot. It kept me engaged and wondering what will happen next (and usually it's easy for me to predict where the story will go). There are some sci-fi elements and time jumps that shift completely the setting, following only Rynna's (FMC) story. Through the different missions and, in a way, lives (due to her amnesia) the reader can see different aspects of her character. She is not shown as this perfect and good heroine, there are complexities and nuances that we cannot completely understand to justify her actions. I enjoyed how strong she was, that she is not defenceless or in need of training. She didn't try to conform to anyone's expectations, just to blend enough in the places she found herself. She knows that her time in each place is limited and tries to make the most of it. There are several love interests and she doesn't stop herself from enjoying their company, which can feel a little insta love when it comes to the MMCs.
Speaking of the MMCs... Snake shifter and wolf shifter, how can she choose?! Kae and Fenn are fun to be around, and I'm glad that she doesn't. They are delicious, each one plays a role and in a way completes the trio. The chemistry is palpable.
Fang Unit was also cool and I enjoyed their interactions very much. They felt like found family and I'm glad that we got to know their quirky personalities.
The ending was truly heart wrenching! And I would've been satisfied with it even without the epilogue, but that just makes it even better! Overall I enjoyed the novel and I will definitely read other books by this author.
With this said, there are a few reasons why this is not a 5 star read for me. The continuous time jumps were a bit confusing, the author introduced secondary characters and information and I kept waiting for them to make sense or appear towards the end but they didn't. I kept asking myself why Rynna is not trying to find answers, and while I understand that going on 892 missions could have pushed her to just resignate and live in the present, I think that it would help the reader understand the impact of certain situations better if there was more context and information. I wanted to learn more about her powers and being both a dragon shifter and a vampire. There was little information about Kaelith and his initial purpose. At times communication between the main characters regarding serious topics (don't want to spoil anything so I'm not giving details) felt like it was missing. Until around 30% of the book I had a difficult time following.
There was a religious hint that I disliked. In one of her missions, set in a desert, there is a character named Josh, who was a prophet. He was crucified and she was pulled out by the Weaving. The similarities with Jesus are a lot and to me this is completely unnecessary.
Lastly, I suppose that the ARC wasn't fully polished and edited due to some typos and some character names changing mid action (Calli became Rhea). Sadly, this contributed to my confusion and pulled me out of the story.
January 12, 2026
I received an Advance Reader Copy of Ashes of a Shattered Soul by Alisa Perne in exchange for an honest review.
This book is ambitious and imaginative, blending fantasy, sci-fi, romantasy, and darker elements into a sweeping story about immortality, memory, and duty. While the scope is impressive, at times the narrative feels overcrowded and hard to follow.
In honesty, I did struggle with the first half of the book. The opening combination of dragons and spaceships was personally off-putting, and the frequent time jumps—weeks, decades, and even millennia—made it difficult to stay emotionally anchored early on.
The story follows Rhynna, an immortal being repeatedly forced into human form (wielded) to save different worlds across millennia, losing her memories each time. Rhynna is a very powerful being but forced to bury what she really is and what she’s capable of but during one of her missions she becomes Queen of the Vampires and lusts for blood. She is also still haunted by the loss of her mate, a connection that resurfaces with two central male characters, Kaelith and 50 years later Fenn.
Rhynna’s relationship with Kaelith develops very quickly; while his serpentine, completely morally dark grey nature is intriguing, the romance itself felt underexplored at first. There is also a brief storyline with 2 other MMCs, Malekar and even earlier Joshua, a love interest from millennia ago, however both felt somewhat disconnected from the rest of the plot.
I did enjoy the battle and training sequences. Chapter 15 stands out, showing Rhynna’s skill set, and her relationship and time with Guide Fenn and the Fang unit was the most compelling part of the book—focused, emotionally grounded, and confident in voice. By the final third, I found myself genuinely invested in Rhynna, Kaelith, and Fenn, which helped the story’s emotional stakes land.
The book introduces many familiar fantasy tropes—beasts in human form, zombies, vampiric blood-sharing, large flying eagles including a Phoenix, waygates for travel, and elemental magic systems. While individually interesting, the number of worlds, characters, and ideas can feel overwhelming, and the book could have been shorter without losing its emotional impact.
Overall, I feel this is a creative and ambitious novel. While it wasn’t a perfect fit for me, there are strong characters and compelling moments that will resonate with readers who enjoy genre-blending fantasy, immortal protagonists, and morally complex relationships.
This book is ambitious and imaginative, blending fantasy, sci-fi, romantasy, and darker elements into a sweeping story about immortality, memory, and duty. While the scope is impressive, at times the narrative feels overcrowded and hard to follow.
In honesty, I did struggle with the first half of the book. The opening combination of dragons and spaceships was personally off-putting, and the frequent time jumps—weeks, decades, and even millennia—made it difficult to stay emotionally anchored early on.
The story follows Rhynna, an immortal being repeatedly forced into human form (wielded) to save different worlds across millennia, losing her memories each time. Rhynna is a very powerful being but forced to bury what she really is and what she’s capable of but during one of her missions she becomes Queen of the Vampires and lusts for blood. She is also still haunted by the loss of her mate, a connection that resurfaces with two central male characters, Kaelith and 50 years later Fenn.
Rhynna’s relationship with Kaelith develops very quickly; while his serpentine, completely morally dark grey nature is intriguing, the romance itself felt underexplored at first. There is also a brief storyline with 2 other MMCs, Malekar and even earlier Joshua, a love interest from millennia ago, however both felt somewhat disconnected from the rest of the plot.
I did enjoy the battle and training sequences. Chapter 15 stands out, showing Rhynna’s skill set, and her relationship and time with Guide Fenn and the Fang unit was the most compelling part of the book—focused, emotionally grounded, and confident in voice. By the final third, I found myself genuinely invested in Rhynna, Kaelith, and Fenn, which helped the story’s emotional stakes land.
The book introduces many familiar fantasy tropes—beasts in human form, zombies, vampiric blood-sharing, large flying eagles including a Phoenix, waygates for travel, and elemental magic systems. While individually interesting, the number of worlds, characters, and ideas can feel overwhelming, and the book could have been shorter without losing its emotional impact.
Overall, I feel this is a creative and ambitious novel. While it wasn’t a perfect fit for me, there are strong characters and compelling moments that will resonate with readers who enjoy genre-blending fantasy, immortal protagonists, and morally complex relationships.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rynna is an immortal tasked with saving the world - repeatedly. She is ripped from realm to realm, her memories in tatters, burdened with ingratiating herself wherever she lands and fighting to save it. Her long dead fated-mate's soul has been split into the bodies of 2 men - both from the same realm, 50 years apart. This realm is on the brink of decimation, and she will need both of them to save it.
The partial amnesia narrative is well done and immerses you in Rynna's perspective and how disjointed it can be. Perne does a wonderful job of showing an immortal savior who is worn down from millennia of fighting with nothing to truly live for. Your two male leads are well written, witty, and traumatized without being absolute drags about it. The banter is top tier and full of follow-through. There is plenty of spice, but not so much that there is no narrative without it.
I thoroughly enjoyed Rynna's smartass mouth and her "being-decidedly-over-it" attitude overall. Seeing her go from dutiful, tired apathy to fragile hope and yearning was *chef's kiss*. The shifter spice in this book was phenomenal as well, and the scenes did (k)not disappoint! The epilogue-esque scene was a nice touch, a wrap up that a lot of novels just don't do.
The one thing I wanted from this narrative that I didn't get was more backstory and lore. This whole narrative is RIPE with lore! Why is this happening? Is this situation the same one that is happening in all of the realms Rynna is sent to? What happened to the rest of the Wise Ones? What did her dad do? Is anyone else being yeeted throughout the multiverse? Are we just hand-waving the need for contraception?
Overall, this book was a really nice change of pace from the usual romantasy romp. I loved the characters, the spice, the magic system, and the premise. There was enough explanation that it was all pieced together, but it felt like a lot of plot holes were covered with 'Because the Weaving Wills It' duct tape. I didn't love the unnecessary jesus insert, and the vampirism felt like a 'get out of death free' plot device rather than meaningfully adding to the narrative. All that said, I would 100% read another book in this setting.
Rynna is an immortal tasked with saving the world - repeatedly. She is ripped from realm to realm, her memories in tatters, burdened with ingratiating herself wherever she lands and fighting to save it. Her long dead fated-mate's soul has been split into the bodies of 2 men - both from the same realm, 50 years apart. This realm is on the brink of decimation, and she will need both of them to save it.
The partial amnesia narrative is well done and immerses you in Rynna's perspective and how disjointed it can be. Perne does a wonderful job of showing an immortal savior who is worn down from millennia of fighting with nothing to truly live for. Your two male leads are well written, witty, and traumatized without being absolute drags about it. The banter is top tier and full of follow-through. There is plenty of spice, but not so much that there is no narrative without it.
I thoroughly enjoyed Rynna's smartass mouth and her "being-decidedly-over-it" attitude overall. Seeing her go from dutiful, tired apathy to fragile hope and yearning was *chef's kiss*. The shifter spice in this book was phenomenal as well, and the scenes did (k)not disappoint! The epilogue-esque scene was a nice touch, a wrap up that a lot of novels just don't do.
The one thing I wanted from this narrative that I didn't get was more backstory and lore. This whole narrative is RIPE with lore! Why is this happening? Is this situation the same one that is happening in all of the realms Rynna is sent to? What happened to the rest of the Wise Ones? What did her dad do? Is anyone else being yeeted throughout the multiverse? Are we just hand-waving the need for contraception?
Overall, this book was a really nice change of pace from the usual romantasy romp. I loved the characters, the spice, the magic system, and the premise. There was enough explanation that it was all pieced together, but it felt like a lot of plot holes were covered with 'Because the Weaving Wills It' duct tape. I didn't love the unnecessary jesus insert, and the vampirism felt like a 'get out of death free' plot device rather than meaningfully adding to the narrative. All that said, I would 100% read another book in this setting.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dragons, shifters, magic and yearning - all of my favorite tropes. I was really excited to get this arc, unfortunately it didn't work for me.
We follow Rynna who after a suicide mission to save the world is captured and tortured by the enemy. While enduring the constant pain she also feels that her mate died. When she finally escapes she is thrown into endless loop of missions to save the world by the Weaving.
Rynna's character was well fleshed out and easy to root for. She is a real warrior, never giving up and fighting with all she has to protect those she care about. During her missions she finds some solace and love but every time she is called back by the Weaving she loses memory of her previous lives so any relationship is torn from her. I liked that she wasn't a character that could only do good and is always strong and brave. She showed her pain and fear as well as sought comfort from her companions.
Kaelith is a snake shifter from Ember Reach, we only really see him with Rynna and know nothing about his motives or what his plans were before meeting her. Their connection is almost immediate. The time jumps in the story only show how much their relationship grew over time not how it happened.
Fenn, the Crimson Wolf, Senior Guide at the Ember Reach and tutor to Rynna's team of Novices. We learn more about him through his conversations with Rynna. I really liked him, he was caring and honest with her. He wants to save his people even if it meant that he loses Rynna.
The plot was fast paced. The actions scenes were very detailed and well written; it was more like watching battle scenes in a movie than reading a book. The world and time jumps were very confusing. I wish we got some more information about the new world Rynna appeared in. The writing was good. The magic system was very interesting, I wish it could be explained a bit more.
Overall, it was a good story and I would recommend it to anybody who loves magic shifters and fated mates.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGally for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
We follow Rynna who after a suicide mission to save the world is captured and tortured by the enemy. While enduring the constant pain she also feels that her mate died. When she finally escapes she is thrown into endless loop of missions to save the world by the Weaving.
Rynna's character was well fleshed out and easy to root for. She is a real warrior, never giving up and fighting with all she has to protect those she care about. During her missions she finds some solace and love but every time she is called back by the Weaving she loses memory of her previous lives so any relationship is torn from her. I liked that she wasn't a character that could only do good and is always strong and brave. She showed her pain and fear as well as sought comfort from her companions.
Kaelith is a snake shifter from Ember Reach, we only really see him with Rynna and know nothing about his motives or what his plans were before meeting her. Their connection is almost immediate. The time jumps in the story only show how much their relationship grew over time not how it happened.
Fenn, the Crimson Wolf, Senior Guide at the Ember Reach and tutor to Rynna's team of Novices. We learn more about him through his conversations with Rynna. I really liked him, he was caring and honest with her. He wants to save his people even if it meant that he loses Rynna.
The plot was fast paced. The actions scenes were very detailed and well written; it was more like watching battle scenes in a movie than reading a book. The world and time jumps were very confusing. I wish we got some more information about the new world Rynna appeared in. The writing was good. The magic system was very interesting, I wish it could be explained a bit more.
Overall, it was a good story and I would recommend it to anybody who loves magic shifters and fated mates.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGally for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was honored to receive an ARC of Ashes of a Shattered Soul, and wow, this book did not hold back!
Rynna is a protagonist who immediately stands out. Bound and controlled by the Weaving, she’s forced to move from world to world, saving realms on the brink of destruction at the cost of her own autonomy. Her power is immense, but it comes with devastating consequences, and the constant tension between duty and self made her journey incredibly compelling.
From the very beginning, the story doesn’t shy away from heartbreak. Rynna’s loss of her mate and shipmates is raw and gut-wrenching. The grief lingers; heavy, aching, and unresolved. So when she encounters him again fifty years later, reincarnated into two men, the story takes a turn that is both unexpected and deeply emotional. The complexity of love reborn, fragmented, and reshaped over time is handled so well.
This book is steeped in loss; lost worlds, lost love, lost pieces of the self, but it never feels... completely hopeless. The author balances the darkness with moments of connection, tenderness, and healing. The relationships are intense, built on shared pain, longing, and undeniable chemistry. And yes, the spice delivers. It’s passionate, emotional, and perfectly woven into the story rather than existing just for shock value or just to be another spicy book lol.
And the ENDING?! Oh my goodness. I literally teared up. I don't want to spoil anything but the ending was beautiful. I also feel like Alisa Perne left this book off where it'd be perfect as a standalone book or making it a series without feeling like you're not getting the whole story, if that makes sense. If you love dark fantasy romance filled with heartbreak, reincarnation, powerful bonds, high emotional stakes, and spice that actually means something, Ashes of a Shattered Soul is an absolute must-read.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This story will stay with me for a long time.
Rynna is a protagonist who immediately stands out. Bound and controlled by the Weaving, she’s forced to move from world to world, saving realms on the brink of destruction at the cost of her own autonomy. Her power is immense, but it comes with devastating consequences, and the constant tension between duty and self made her journey incredibly compelling.
From the very beginning, the story doesn’t shy away from heartbreak. Rynna’s loss of her mate and shipmates is raw and gut-wrenching. The grief lingers; heavy, aching, and unresolved. So when she encounters him again fifty years later, reincarnated into two men, the story takes a turn that is both unexpected and deeply emotional. The complexity of love reborn, fragmented, and reshaped over time is handled so well.
This book is steeped in loss; lost worlds, lost love, lost pieces of the self, but it never feels... completely hopeless. The author balances the darkness with moments of connection, tenderness, and healing. The relationships are intense, built on shared pain, longing, and undeniable chemistry. And yes, the spice delivers. It’s passionate, emotional, and perfectly woven into the story rather than existing just for shock value or just to be another spicy book lol.
And the ENDING?! Oh my goodness. I literally teared up. I don't want to spoil anything but the ending was beautiful. I also feel like Alisa Perne left this book off where it'd be perfect as a standalone book or making it a series without feeling like you're not getting the whole story, if that makes sense. If you love dark fantasy romance filled with heartbreak, reincarnation, powerful bonds, high emotional stakes, and spice that actually means something, Ashes of a Shattered Soul is an absolute must-read.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This story will stay with me for a long time.
February 3, 2026
3⭐️ ┇ Bookstagram ┇ BookTok
The storyline was interesting and made for a solid dark romantasy. I really enjoyed the smut, and the banter was fun, witty, and honestly one of my favorite parts of the book. I also loved the FMC—she was badass. The writing style was beautiful, and the story carried a lot of emotional weight.
The storyline was unique. With the FMC who’s forced to reincarnate into multiple different lives with little to no memory of who she was before—except for the knowledge that she’s completing a mission for the Weaving.
That said, I personally would have liked more world-building. The magic system and timeline were often confusing, and I found myself feeling lost more than once while reading. The romance also leaned a bit insta-lovey for my taste—I would’ve loved more slow burn, tension, and yearning. I still have questions about some of the powers at play, especially what the Weaving actually is and how it has control over her.
All in all, this was a unique and complex dark fantasy read with a lot of potential.
‧₊˚✧𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽✧˚₊‧
➳❥ Dark Romantasy
➳❥ Morally Grey Characters
➳❥ Why Choose
➳❥ Found Family
➳❥ Banter
➳❥ Vampire / Shifters
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝓕𝓪𝓿 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽t𝓮𝓼
“Let them feel her pain. Let them choke on it.”
“For as long as I'm here. Please, stay with me.”
“You're stuck with me. Until I die and the world burns."
“How can I lead you? How can I be responsible for all of you if...you're the only thing on my mind from the moment I wake up until I fall asleep."
"I think we've already established the lengths I'd go just to see you again."
“I am a monster, Rynna. Your love doesn't change that.”
The storyline was interesting and made for a solid dark romantasy. I really enjoyed the smut, and the banter was fun, witty, and honestly one of my favorite parts of the book. I also loved the FMC—she was badass. The writing style was beautiful, and the story carried a lot of emotional weight.
The storyline was unique. With the FMC who’s forced to reincarnate into multiple different lives with little to no memory of who she was before—except for the knowledge that she’s completing a mission for the Weaving.
That said, I personally would have liked more world-building. The magic system and timeline were often confusing, and I found myself feeling lost more than once while reading. The romance also leaned a bit insta-lovey for my taste—I would’ve loved more slow burn, tension, and yearning. I still have questions about some of the powers at play, especially what the Weaving actually is and how it has control over her.
All in all, this was a unique and complex dark fantasy read with a lot of potential.
‧₊˚✧𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽✧˚₊‧
➳❥ Dark Romantasy
➳❥ Morally Grey Characters
➳❥ Why Choose
➳❥ Found Family
➳❥ Banter
➳❥ Vampire / Shifters
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝓕𝓪𝓿 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽t𝓮𝓼
“Let them feel her pain. Let them choke on it.”
“For as long as I'm here. Please, stay with me.”
“You're stuck with me. Until I die and the world burns."
“How can I lead you? How can I be responsible for all of you if...you're the only thing on my mind from the moment I wake up until I fall asleep."
"I think we've already established the lengths I'd go just to see you again."
“I am a monster, Rynna. Your love doesn't change that.”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an advance copy of Ashes of a Shattered Soul via NetGalley. This is my honest review.
This story throws you straight into the action, opening in the middle of a mission and immediately immersing you in battle, danger, and high stakes. From the start, it’s clear this is a complex fantasy world with layered magic and a long history, but the details are revealed slowly and in fragments.
For a good portion of the first half, I’ll admit I was pretty confused. The world-building is delivered in a very narrow, close-up way rather than giving readers a broad understanding of the world, the war, or the magic system. There were several times where I wasn’t entirely sure how certain abilities worked or how different elements connected. The story also includes time jumps and new perspectives that can be a bit disorienting at first.
I’m glad I stuck with it though. Around the middle of the book, more pieces begin to fall into place, especially regarding Rynna’s past and how she became who she is. Watching those revelations unfold added emotional depth and made the story much more engaging.
This is a very creative fantasy that blends multiple familiar elements in interesting ways, with plenty of action, tension, and character dynamics. The relationships were a highlight for me. Kaelith and Fenn, in particular, brought humor, banter, and emotional intensity that balanced some of the heavier and more chaotic parts of the plot.
Overall, this felt like a story where you have to be willing to go along for the ride and trust that answers will come later. While I sometimes wished for clearer explanations and more context, I did enjoy the characters, the emotional arcs, and the way the story ultimately came together. The ending felt fitting.
This story throws you straight into the action, opening in the middle of a mission and immediately immersing you in battle, danger, and high stakes. From the start, it’s clear this is a complex fantasy world with layered magic and a long history, but the details are revealed slowly and in fragments.
For a good portion of the first half, I’ll admit I was pretty confused. The world-building is delivered in a very narrow, close-up way rather than giving readers a broad understanding of the world, the war, or the magic system. There were several times where I wasn’t entirely sure how certain abilities worked or how different elements connected. The story also includes time jumps and new perspectives that can be a bit disorienting at first.
I’m glad I stuck with it though. Around the middle of the book, more pieces begin to fall into place, especially regarding Rynna’s past and how she became who she is. Watching those revelations unfold added emotional depth and made the story much more engaging.
This is a very creative fantasy that blends multiple familiar elements in interesting ways, with plenty of action, tension, and character dynamics. The relationships were a highlight for me. Kaelith and Fenn, in particular, brought humor, banter, and emotional intensity that balanced some of the heavier and more chaotic parts of the plot.
Overall, this felt like a story where you have to be willing to go along for the ride and trust that answers will come later. While I sometimes wished for clearer explanations and more context, I did enjoy the characters, the emotional arcs, and the way the story ultimately came together. The ending felt fitting.
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