Dawn of Crescentia

by Ava M. Rose

Realms of Etheria is an adventure-filled epic romantasy series set in the first universe ever created. Etheria is divided by light and shadow—ruled by primordials and their legendary dragons.

Dawn of Crescentia, the first book in the series, focuses on Selenia, Goddess of Crescentia—gentle and kind, yet resolute and astute. Her bond and steadfast friendship with her Lunaron Dragon, Silvara, is as fierce as it is unbreakable. When Selenia falls for Ashlen, the erudite God of Everwood, something powerful awakens.

As their fated bond begins to flourish, humans arrive—curious and more consequential than anyone could have expected. Their arrival disrupts the balance of the realms and forces the primordials to confront threats they never imagined.

How would you feel if you were living alongside the immortals who created you? What lengths would you go to become one of them?

379 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 3, 2026

About the author

Ava M. Rose is a lover of artistic, magical, romantic, and fictional worlds. She began writing poetry, which then evolved, through her love of romance, tech, and crime thrillers, into a romantic suspense trilogy—The Sensual Series.

More recently, she has refocused her writing to create a new romantasy, a fictional and imagistic Fantasy series called the Realms of Etheria.

Reviews

[Becks O · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the absolute pleasure of being and ARC reader for Dawn of Crescentia and wow, I'm so grateful for that opportunity.

Before I dive into this review, three things you need to know about me:  


1. I never cry while reading books.  

2. I very rarely cry at all.  

3. I finished this book... and sobbed for a solid 20 minutes straight.  

This story completely shattered me, in the best possible way. You all need to read it ASAP.

I'm still super emotional and reeling, so here's my review in bullets:

- The writing is breathtaking. Ava's descriptions of the characters and the vivid worlds they're building feel truly magical and special.  

- It's giving Adam and Eve but with dragons and magic. Exactly the twist I didn't know my soul was craving.  

- The female characters are fierce and unforgettable, and the MMCs are so wonderful you'll fall hard for every single one and root for them with everything you've got.  

- The spice is 🥵🥵 intensely hot, yet written with such elegance and beauty that you're left both flushed and swooning at the same time. Classy, emotional, and scorching.  

- That plot twist? Prepare to scream at the book, gasp out loud, and possibly throw it across the room (in awe).  

If you're looking for a fantasy that hits you right in the feels, wraps you in gorgeous world-building, delivers heart-pounding romance, and leaves you emotionally wrecked then this is it. I'm broken and I love it.

[Chloe Tebay · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Rating!

I was so lucky to get my hands on an ARC of this book, thanks Ava! I really enjoyed Realms of Etheria: Dawn of Crescentia. There’s so much to enjoy, really detailed world building, dragons!! the magic, and you really get the feeling that this book is setting up a big fantasy + romance series.

The story follows Selenia and Ashlen across multiple POVs, with a focus on magic, politics, and figuring out who they are in a world that wants to control power. Selenia’s storyline especially has emotional depth, and I liked seeing her growth over time.

The pacing was a bit slow for me, especially in the first half (but im aware Ava is taking our feedback before publishing the final copy as I’ve seen on other reviews, excited to see the final copy!). It leans heavily into world setup, so it sometimes feels more like a long prologue than a fully complete story. A few sections felt overly detailed or info heavy, and I found myself wanting things to move along quicker.

That being said… The spice though!! Very different to spice I’ve read before, it’s so elegant and I really enjoyed it. The detail and pages of spice is amazing. The spice adds a fun layer to the story, and if you’re like me, it will definitely appeal if you like some heat in your fantasy! 🌶️

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it has a lot of potential for setting the story for a fantasy series! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series when it’s out 😻 thanks again Ava! 🤎

[Laura Cowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I will ever stop talking about and recommending this book. Absolutely incredible. If Fantasy/Romantasy is your thing or if you are brand new to the genre then this is the perfect book to start with. The worldbuilding was done so well and was easy to follow with everything being explained clearly. The characters are just everything and were written perfectly, I connected with them so much. The spice was really good and fitted in with the overall vibe of the book so well. The way this book made me reflect on life, family, being a mother, what is important in life etc was unreal, it really got to me in all the best ways.

The ending!!! I need more, everyone needs to read this book, simple.

[Gemma Wittkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of being an ARC reader for this book and I am very thankful.

That ending was absolutely heartbreaking, I really felt for the characters in the book and it was just so well written. This was a beautifully written book which went into a lot of details about the world and really painted the picture for you whilst reading.

I will admit that I did struggle with the first half of the book as it took me a while to get into due to the pacing, as I felt this was a little slow for me. It didn't feel like much was going on but I understand that this was to build up the world that was being created and to help us understand the premise.

The second half of this book was so much more engaging and the story really got going and had me hooked. The chapters with Sangraelle were so different and I just wanted to see what she was getting up to! I loved the dragons! I loved the sassiness of Timbrax and the gentle naturedness of Silvara they really added to the story.

I need book 2 immediately because after how the book ended. I need to know what happens next!

[Kate Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I finished this book I felt like Joey in Friends when he said ‘can I put the book in the fridge’! Wow, what a book! The world building is well paced and the action builds perfectly. I’m a sucker for a ‘complete kind of love’ and this debut book in the series had it in spades. The heat between the main characters was palpable 🥵.

Once the story had been set, the second half of the book really picked up pace and I loved it.

What an ending… you need to read this book!!!! I cannot wait (but am a little scared) to see what comes next!

Ava, you should be so incredibly proud of yourself, I know I am of you ❤️❤️❤️

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given the chance to read this in advance of its release!!

This is a beautifully written story that certainly take you on one hell of a journey, and it kept me immersed the throughout.

Just when you think all is going to be well between the worlds, things begin to take a dark turn and you begin to sense as to what is going to happen, and of course that ending - I just wanted to scream!!

Whilst reading you felt you were there and could imagine all of the different landscapes and various creatures. I absolutely loved it.

This was such an amazing read and cannot wait to see how this story progresses in book 2.

💕 Fated Bond
😇 God / Goddess
🐉 Dragons
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family
🖤 Cunning Trickster
💗 Devoted Love Interest
💞 Fierce Heroine

[Frida · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review
I highly recommend reading this book 😍 It's a unique world where we get to follow the gods from the minute they exist. I love the relationship between Ashlen and his dragon, also the Ashlen and Selenias bond. It has sarcastic dragons, soulmates and amazing worldbuilding.
The end of the book is a cliffhanger and it leaves you speachless.

[bookdragonaurora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no words, this book had me sobbing at the end and it’s very rare a book makes me cry. I absolutely adored this book. Thank you for letting me be one of your ARC readers!
The world building was amazing, you really were able to feel like you were apart of the creation.
The characters you definitely grow an attachment to. I loved the feeling of being apart of their family.
I absolutely loved the mix of dragons, gods/goddesses, and a little bit of space travel.
Just enough spice as well.🔥😉
I was not expecting the last few chapters they had me on the edge of my seat until the end and the end… well you’ll just have to read it!
I can’t wait for the next book!

[Ebony Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️My Review✨️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
I've decided to just write about this absolutely gorgeous romantasy without all my added fancy spancy stuff I normally do because I truthfully believe that once you have chosen to read Ava's book, the writing, creativity and pure wonder of this first novel in the Realms of Etheria series speaks entirely for itself and has actually left me feeling a little bit at a loss for words on how I can actually speak about this book without getting emotional! The characters flow off the page like they were meant to exist in every time period and the world building for me is the best I've read and loved since reading Robin Hobb and or Sarah J Maas! The spice was written beautifully and I cannot see anything topping this for me romantasy wise in 2026!!

[Marilyn Formosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting creation. The characters are described really well and the writing is outstanding.

[Angela Zambito · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much Ava for the chance to have an ARC of this book.
Ava has really taken the time with this first book in the series to create the universe here and explain the origins of the 4 primordials and their stories to develop their planets and dragons and surrounding flora and fauna. The first bit therefore is a bit difficult to really feel connected to but once you know it's all about world building, it makes a lot more sense. Once I was through to the relationships between primordials and themselves and their dragons I began liking this a lot more. I love the multi-person view points throughout, as well as being able to really get to know the dragons as well and their relationships. I enjoyed the writing style and always enjoy a first person base as I find this much easier to connect with.
I did struggle with the 'design-ist' themes but once I got a bit further in I just accepted it as part of the book and began to enjoy thinking about the characters and their love of their own planets and how that can show itself in the design itself. I think it is also very ironic to think about how humans nowadays are destroying our actual planet and showing their own greed and desire for power and money and status, while these themes then carry into this book and start to show even right at the beginning of the human introductions.
Overall I do think this is a great start to the series and I look forward to hearing more. I am just worried that there will be a lot of depressing themes in the following book due to the ending in this book and whether it will be tough to turn around from this and keep readers invested.

[Dayna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dawn of Crescentia is a beautifully crafted fantasy that drew me in from the very first page. Ava M. Rose has a knack for blending intricate world-building with emotional storytelling, creating a universe that feels rich, immersive, and full of possibilities.

The characters are compelling and layered, each with their own struggles and desires that make them feel real and relatable. I especially appreciated the protagonist’s journey — it’s filled with growth, challenges, and moments of quiet courage that resonated deeply.

The pacing is generally smooth, with a nice balance between action, character development, and world-building. There were moments that had me completely absorbed, though at times I wanted a bit more depth in the supporting cast and lore. Regardless, the narrative remains engaging, and the stakes kept me turning pages.

The themes of hope, resilience, and self-discovery are handled beautifully, and the story ends in a satisfying way while leaving room for the series to grow. Overall, Dawn of Crescentia is a strong start to what promises to be an exciting series.

✨ A beautifully written, immersive fantasy with strong characters and a touch of magic — a solid four-star read. ✨

[Mel Ram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, Dawn of Crescentia was a good story with an interesting premise. I chose to read this ARC because the cover was beautiful, the promise of dragons immediately caught my attention, and the author's name is Ava just like my granddaughter. This first book in the series follows Selenia and her developing relationship with Ashlen as their fated bond begins to grow, until the arrival of humans disrupts the balance of the realms and forces the primordials/gods to confront unexpected threats. Yes, there are dragons.

The first third of the book was very slow and difficult for me to get into, and parts of the story initially felt almost biblical in tone. However, I'm glad I continued reading, as the final two-thirds became more engaging. It's crazy how realistic this story and the issues occurring in this world are. The last few chapters with Sangraelle, Wow! That woke me up. I did not see that coming. I want to know what happens next after that ending. When does book 2 come out?

cons: While I enjoy detailed worldbuilding, some of it felt unnecessary and slowed the pacing. Part of the first love scene felt unrealistic even within a fantasy setting. I thought to myself, there is no way a woman would do that particular thing her first time. The rest was good. That said, the core idea was good, and readers who enjoy heavily detailed, slow-paced fantasy with fated bonds may find more to love here, but I still want to know what happens to the other gods. hmmmmm.....

[Jodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dawn of Crecentia -The story of Etheria’s creation and the divine beings appointed to bring the world to life.

The story includes Gods & Goddesses, dragons, mortals, a side of magic and some spice thrown in there along the way.

I appreciated the originality of the worldbuilding and some memorable elements with the dragons, but the book took a long time to find its footing. The main part of book centres on the worldbuilding and the 4 divine beings relationships with each other.

The first three quarters felt overly "nice" with little to no "grit" to the storyline, which made the pacing drag and left several main characters - Selenia, Ashlen & Amaralia, feeling a little one-dimensional. The only character that had any depth, to me, was Valandor.

The tone shifts and stakes in the final section improved the momentum significantly, and the ending delivered genuine emotional impact and made me cry. So in saying that, by the end I felt I had read 2 different books.

Overall I give the book 3.5 stars

I received a free Arc copy of the book and I am leaving a review voluntarily.

[Nina Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes you on an other worldly journey through the Realms of Etheria at their very beginning.

We're introduced to Omniron the Overgod and the four Primordials, Selenia, Ashlen, Amaralia and Valandor.

This is Selenia's story as she builds Cresentia and falls in love with Ashlen. Their soulbond is almost immediate but their love still develops throughout the book. I loved how their love story wasn't a typical romance especially how they both show their strengths and vulnerabilities with each other.

I never knew I needed dragon dialogue in my life but it turns out, I do! Selenia's Dragon, Silvara is perfect for her and has extra special powers. Timbrax is Ashlen's dragon and has a very dry sense of humour which compliments Ashlen's jovial personality.

As the worlds build and more lifeforms are added - humans in particular - the initial serenity is disrupted and a darkness begins to descend. Some people are not as they seem, or are they exactly as you expect?

Once I settled into the world, I could not put this book down. Now I am impatiently awaiting the sequel!

[Whitney Casarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying, I loved this book!
It was the world building, so much of it! Also, the characters, the way they develop and grow In this story is fun to watch.

Found family, soulmates, world building, spice, character building, dragons, magic, good vs evil, I mean this book has it all!

The whole thought process, every detail put into this book, absolutely blows my mind! It is so complex, so detailed and also funny. Author Ava Rose definitely has quite the imagination and an eye for detail.

Selenia and Ashlen (and their dragons) are such beautiful souls, created from nothingness. Soulmates. They are Gods and Goddesses who build their own worlds from the ground up. Things get pretty interesting once the humans develop the land and start expanding the towns with one woman in particular who is dead set on ruining everything they have built. No spoilers. The ending is agonizing though. I will say that!!

[Hayley Lunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC READ
Realms of Etheria - Dawn Of Crescentia. #1

I have been so excited to receive this in my inbox since Ava announced that she was writing a Romantasy and let me say, as soon as that email pinged, you bet I spent 9 hours devouring this book in one sitting!

The world building is so complex I can only imagine the amount of brain power you have to possess to write something like that! I’m always in awe of Fantasy/Romantasy writers.

I think I felt all of the emotions reading this novel!
One of my favourite things was the bond between Ashlen & Timbrax! The banter is just 👌🏼
Ava, you definitely got to me at the end there. I need to have a few words with you! 😒😂

But it all honestly, you can see the abundance of love & passion Ava has for her writing. It’s just a masterpiece and I’m so glad I’m a part of Ava’s Angels Street Team 💙🩵💜

[Cassi Olazabal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC copy.
The world-building is amazing, and the character development is something else.
This world is amazing, the true thought and creative genius behind it all.
There is a found family, amazing world building, and did I mention dragons.
For me, it was the dragons that had me picking it up.
Yes, there is spice as well.
I'm not going to lie, I'm not a big fan when it came down to Selenia and Ashlen. I don't really know how to describe what set me off when it came to their relationship dynamic, per se.
Perhaps it was just that the writing wasn't truly for me in the long run. Not saying the story was bad, thus the four-star rating, just at times it was a bit much for me.

[Inthemindofasmut · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a phenomenal debut into the fantasy genre for Ava M. Rose. I had the absolute pleasure of working with Ava on this book, almost from the very beginning, and watching her invent this whole world and rewrite how the world began was amazing. The different characters, the animals, and the imagery were absolutely fantastic. And let's not forget the sarcastic dragons.

Through her fantasy writing, Ava has the ability to get you lost in the world, the story, the plot. So much so that you don't see the villain coming. Who you think it is, isn't who it is, and the cliffhanger at the end. Heartbreaking.

Well done Ava. I can't wait to read book 2.

[Abbey Wales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)

A breathtaking start to a brand-new romantasy series, Dawn of Crescentia is the kind of book that grabs you from the very first chapter and refuses to let go. The world-building was rich, the characters layered and compelling, and the emotional stakes? Off the charts. 🥹

Ava M. Rose has absolutely nailed her romantasy debut this was a true page-turner that had me hooked, heartbroken, and begging for the next book. Expect powerful magic, emotional depth, and a storyline that lingers with you long after the final page.

If you love fantasy with romance at its core and aren’t afraid to shed a few tears along the way, this one belongs on your TBR ASAP.

[Maci-Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything is this book was so well put together. Rose has set an amazing foundation for future expansions of this universe and the characters experiences. Bonds between a range of unique characters have been established clearly and expertly. While this book sets up its own individual proceses for life it also poses some great existential questions. Reading Dawn of Cresentia (DOC) in just a day led to some reflecting as I figure my own answers to the questions DOC has raised for me.

And the top notch banter doesn’t hurt.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hard ARC review for me. I personally didn’t connect with the story and characters but I am making the choice to leave an honest review based on the things I did like. First I can appreciate the time and hard work the author put into creating the universe. This book starts off with the first breath of intelligent life and expands out from there all the way from Gods, planets, and life on those planets. The other thing I can appreciate is the intermingling of the characters. This kind of read like a galactic soap opera. There was a lot of drama and plenty of spice.

[Sam Oneill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written Romantasy novel, this one caught me hookline and sinker.

This storyline is filled with twists and turns, challenges that we see the characters go through.

The storyline and characters build up was amazingly done! The way this author has written it is ao creative!

In this story we see the romance unfold between a Godess and God, we see Selenia bond beautifully with her dragon.

The spice was spicing in this novel!

This isn't the first novel of this author I have read and I can hands down say it will not be the last of her books I'll read!