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Of Ash and Rune: A Steamy Monster Romance
She came to the mountain to prove a legend. She found a monster who would burn the world for her.
Lyra "Runetongue" Hale knows two the Silver Rune Academy is full of arrogant fools, and the ancient legends of the Drakhan are real. Determined to prove the scholars wrong, she treks into the frozen heart of the Ashen Spine.
She expected to find cold ruins and silence. Instead, she woke Vaerion.
He is the last of his kind—lethal, ancient, and radiating a heat that melts the surrounding snow. An accidental touch forges a runic, unbreakable bond between them, fusing their fates.
Now, trapped in a blizzard and hunted by shadows, Lyra must rely on the monster to survive. Vaerion brings the fire of the ancients; Lyra brings the logic of runes. But as the cold closes in, the only way to stay alive is to get closer to his burning fire.
Even if that heat threatens to consume her whole.
_____________
OF ASH AND RUNE is a standalone fantasy romance novella intended for mature audiences.
Monster Romance / Fantasy Romance
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (High Heat)
What to
🔥 Dragon-Hybrid Alpha Hero (Possessive & Protective)
❄️ Accidental Soulbond
🔥 Size Difference
❄️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🔥 Primal Play / Instincts
Author's This book contains mature content and explicit scenes intended for audiences 18+.
Lyra "Runetongue" Hale knows two the Silver Rune Academy is full of arrogant fools, and the ancient legends of the Drakhan are real. Determined to prove the scholars wrong, she treks into the frozen heart of the Ashen Spine.
She expected to find cold ruins and silence. Instead, she woke Vaerion.
He is the last of his kind—lethal, ancient, and radiating a heat that melts the surrounding snow. An accidental touch forges a runic, unbreakable bond between them, fusing their fates.
Now, trapped in a blizzard and hunted by shadows, Lyra must rely on the monster to survive. Vaerion brings the fire of the ancients; Lyra brings the logic of runes. But as the cold closes in, the only way to stay alive is to get closer to his burning fire.
Even if that heat threatens to consume her whole.
_____________
OF ASH AND RUNE is a standalone fantasy romance novella intended for mature audiences.
Monster Romance / Fantasy Romance
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (High Heat)
What to
🔥 Dragon-Hybrid Alpha Hero (Possessive & Protective)
❄️ Accidental Soulbond
🔥 Size Difference
❄️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🔥 Primal Play / Instincts
Author's This book contains mature content and explicit scenes intended for audiences 18+.
124 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 15, 2025
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2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 26, 2025
3.5 stars (rounded up!)
A short book that absolutely breathes fire!
He was built for war. She was built to bring him to his knees. Lyra “Runetongue” Hale arrives at the Ashen Spine with one goal: prove the scholars of Silver Rune Academy wrong. The legends of the Drakhan are real, and she intends to find the truth buried beneath ice and arrogance. What she doesn’t expect is to wake Vaerion.
Vaerion is ancient, lethal, and the last of his kind… radiating a heat so intense it melts snow and rewrites fate. One accidental touch binds them together in an unbreakable runic soulbond, fusing fire and logic, monster and scholar. Trapped in a blizzard and hunted by shadows, survival means trust… and getting dangerously close to a fire that could consume her whole.
This book may be short, but it packs a punch. You still get all the fantasy, romantasy, and monster romance vibes, without the massive commitment of a 500–700 page tome (which, honestly, I just didn’t want right now). It’s fast-paced, well-written, and never feels like it’s missing depth despite the shorter length.
✨ Tropes you’ll find inside:
Dragon-Hybrid Alpha Hero (possessive & protective)
Accidental soulbond
Size difference
Grumpy x sunshine
Primal instincts / play
I loved that I could sink into an immersive fantasy world, get tension, heat, and emotional payoff and still finish feeling satisfied rather than overwhelmed. The ending is clearly setting up more, and I am very interested to see where this series goes next.
Short, fiery, and addictive, highly recommend if you want maximum impact with minimal time commitment. 🐉🔥
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A short book that absolutely breathes fire!
He was built for war. She was built to bring him to his knees. Lyra “Runetongue” Hale arrives at the Ashen Spine with one goal: prove the scholars of Silver Rune Academy wrong. The legends of the Drakhan are real, and she intends to find the truth buried beneath ice and arrogance. What she doesn’t expect is to wake Vaerion.
Vaerion is ancient, lethal, and the last of his kind… radiating a heat so intense it melts snow and rewrites fate. One accidental touch binds them together in an unbreakable runic soulbond, fusing fire and logic, monster and scholar. Trapped in a blizzard and hunted by shadows, survival means trust… and getting dangerously close to a fire that could consume her whole.
This book may be short, but it packs a punch. You still get all the fantasy, romantasy, and monster romance vibes, without the massive commitment of a 500–700 page tome (which, honestly, I just didn’t want right now). It’s fast-paced, well-written, and never feels like it’s missing depth despite the shorter length.
✨ Tropes you’ll find inside:
Dragon-Hybrid Alpha Hero (possessive & protective)
Accidental soulbond
Size difference
Grumpy x sunshine
Primal instincts / play
I loved that I could sink into an immersive fantasy world, get tension, heat, and emotional payoff and still finish feeling satisfied rather than overwhelmed. The ending is clearly setting up more, and I am very interested to see where this series goes next.
Short, fiery, and addictive, highly recommend if you want maximum impact with minimal time commitment. 🐉🔥
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 4, 2026
This was not what I was expecting. I received an ARC from book sirens and I was immediately pulled into this story. Lyra “Runetongue” Hale is witty, confident and very good at what she does. Which is finding things and creating runes. She actually finds herself awakening a long forgotten Drakhan, half man half dragon. And now they’re stuck together.
We follow them on their journey to figure out what is happening in their world while also working out their feelings. I really liked how Lyra didn’t back down or let Vaerion do all the work. She stepped up and they were a team. They were like ying and yang complimenting each others power to defeat all types of creatures.
I hope book 2 is in the works bc this was a really fun and spicey resd!! I’m curious to see where they go from here bc the ending broke my heart a little bit.
We follow them on their journey to figure out what is happening in their world while also working out their feelings. I really liked how Lyra didn’t back down or let Vaerion do all the work. She stepped up and they were a team. They were like ying and yang complimenting each others power to defeat all types of creatures.
I hope book 2 is in the works bc this was a really fun and spicey resd!! I’m curious to see where they go from here bc the ending broke my heart a little bit.
January 4, 2026
So i've just finished reading this and i am a bit stumped…..
I'm not sure i got what the plot was. Yes it had a bonded romance, their were fantasy creatures (mages, dragons, half dragons… Drakhan and wraith shadow beings)
But i didnt know what the plot was. (May have to read it again)
One thing i can say was the art work was beautiful and the descriptions were perfect.
This is not a reflection on the Authors work. I will re-read again and edit my review of this book. I think i'm in a slump and not retained this book to the best of my abilities.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I'm not sure i got what the plot was. Yes it had a bonded romance, their were fantasy creatures (mages, dragons, half dragons… Drakhan and wraith shadow beings)
But i didnt know what the plot was. (May have to read it again)
One thing i can say was the art work was beautiful and the descriptions were perfect.
This is not a reflection on the Authors work. I will re-read again and edit my review of this book. I think i'm in a slump and not retained this book to the best of my abilities.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 10, 2026
3.5 Stars
This book was a quick read. I really enjoyed the banter and I loved the artwork sprinkled throughout.
I did struggle a bit trying to understand the direction this was going. The adventures and little side quests didn’t seem to have any obvious purpose and I was confused at the end.
I would definitely read if there were to be a continuation of this story. I think there’s real promise here, with some refinement.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was a quick read. I really enjoyed the banter and I loved the artwork sprinkled throughout.
I did struggle a bit trying to understand the direction this was going. The adventures and little side quests didn’t seem to have any obvious purpose and I was confused at the end.
I would definitely read if there were to be a continuation of this story. I think there’s real promise here, with some refinement.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 26, 2026
Lyra wanted to prove everyone at the academy that she was right. So she went to the mountains to find the ruins of the Drakhan. She didn’t realize she would awaken Vaerion. And that she would get a bondmark. It’s up to her to teach him control. They have to learn to work together through the bond to make each other stronger. This was such a good short read! Light on the spice but I loved the action and magic in it. Definitely pulls you right in. I didn’t want it to end!
December 31, 2025
4.5⭐ 🌶️
I really enjoyed this! The story is strong, the characters are great, and the writing completely pulled me in. I just wish it was longer. it’s a novella with so much potential to be a full-length novel. There’s plenty here that could be expanded on in such a satisfying way.
Excited for the next book!
I really enjoyed this! The story is strong, the characters are great, and the writing completely pulled me in. I just wish it was longer. it’s a novella with so much potential to be a full-length novel. There’s plenty here that could be expanded on in such a satisfying way.
Excited for the next book!
January 20, 2026
This book had me hooked from the start...
The pacing was fun and engaging, and I found myself flying through this book. My only real disappointment was the length. I genuinely wished this story had gone further, especially exploring Lyra’s return to the academy. I’m sure more books are planned, but this installment left me feeling like there was still so much more world and character development waiting just beyond.
That said, I think that’s a bit of a paradox—because wanting more is really a sign of how much I enjoyed it. The characters felt rich, the world felt unique, and the story pulled me in with a fresh energy. I especially loved the dynamic between Lyra and Vaerion. Lyra holds her own, stands her ground, and feels like a true equal rather than a passive lead, which made their partnership compelling.
Overall, a fun, immersive read that left me eager for the next installment. I received this eARC from book sirens.
The pacing was fun and engaging, and I found myself flying through this book. My only real disappointment was the length. I genuinely wished this story had gone further, especially exploring Lyra’s return to the academy. I’m sure more books are planned, but this installment left me feeling like there was still so much more world and character development waiting just beyond.
That said, I think that’s a bit of a paradox—because wanting more is really a sign of how much I enjoyed it. The characters felt rich, the world felt unique, and the story pulled me in with a fresh energy. I especially loved the dynamic between Lyra and Vaerion. Lyra holds her own, stands her ground, and feels like a true equal rather than a passive lead, which made their partnership compelling.
Overall, a fun, immersive read that left me eager for the next installment. I received this eARC from book sirens.
January 17, 2026
For such a short book, Of Ash & Rune somehow manages to pack in plenty of monster spice and angst, along with surprisingly rich lore, magic systems, and world-building. We even get a solid glimpse into the lives (and emotional baggage) of the main characters — which I was not expecting from a novella-length read.
Short, spicy, and way more layered than it has any right to be, this one definitely left me intrigued and eager to see more from both this author and this series.
Short, spicy, and way more layered than it has any right to be, this one definitely left me intrigued and eager to see more from both this author and this series.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews