Shadows of Ash: A Veilbound Saga

by Shauna Richmond

I was sent to persuade Aerin Morran to join our cause. By order of Tiernan himself.

What should have been a straightforward negotiation became a masquerade of silk, secrets, and enemies wearing borrowed faces. Worse still, the prince we needed was tied to the very bloodline we were meant to destroy.

Cassias was only supposed to keep me alive while I handled the diplomacy. Instead, he tackled Aerin into the thorn bushes, traded blows with a fae prince, and somehow altered the course of everything that followed.

Aerin agreed to help us, but not because of anything I said. From the moment Cassias tackled him into the thorn bushes, I may as well have ceased to exist.

And Cassias, to everyone’s lasting inconvenience, looked right back.

Now the fae are emerging from hiding, Purists are striking without restraint, and Vaelith is already laying the groundwork for another genocide.

All of it born from a single reckless choice.

Two men who should have destroyed each other...

but didn’t.

And I have a feeling we are all going to pay for it

828 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2026

About the author

I began my writing journey in 2016 after suffering a breakdown and having major time off work to recover.

I'm a huge fantasy lover and began my journey as an author writing The Wrath of Raghnall which I later shortened to Raghnall's Wrath (new adult fantasy.)

After the pandemic, I began writing contemporary Rom-Com as I felt like I needed something to laugh at and many of my readers felt the same. Screw it! was born and became a hit with my readers.

I will continue to dapple with different genres though, I doubt I will change to a pen name for any. I am immensely proud of all my books and will continue to put my name to any/all works.

A few things about me:

I speak fluent sarcasm and for those who are easily offended, I'm most definitely not the person you want to be around.

I'm a hot chocolate lover with a healthy obsession with all kinds of romance books and an unhealthy obsession with fictional men *Ahem... Bat-boys.📚

I'm a mother to a beautifully demented little boy with ASD and GDD. He loves nothing more than to cause mischief and stalk away laughing maniacally. When my miniature bond villain isn't leaving a trail of destruction behind him, he can be found doting on our two dogs.


When I'm not busy running around after my son— you can find me curled up with a paperback or Kindle in hand—occasionally the odd Audiobook.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg what a way to carry on with this series, i don’t know how shauna dose this but at one point if this book i was crying, laughing and jumping up and down in me seat at the same time.

In this book you follow on will all the people you meet in echos but you also see more of the relationship between Cassias and Airen, what a couple these two are, the progress may be slow but it hits you so deep with these two and you feel everything.

The story of this book has you thinking all they way through it just when you think something will happen shauna is able to twist it to be nothing like you expected.

How the end of this book has happened has not been a pleasant experience but boy dose it like up for such an epic next book.

I can not wait to see what they go in the next instalment of the veilbound saga.

[Terryanne Bastow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took my time in this world, enjoying every moment with Cas. What a way to bring our favourite character out of himself. I love the way they have all grown and become who they are in this. However WELL DONE AND F*CK YOU! (Shauna knew that last bit was coming and approved it)

[Sonja Charters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Shauna has managed to pull me into this world, chew me up and spit me out - weeping - quite honestly, I feel like I've been through the Gauntlet myself with this one.

 

I know I'm late to the party (as ever) but this book really is a chonky one and to say I left it late is an understatement, given it's well over 800 pages - I'm actually extremely proud that I managed this in so few days - but ashamed I'm only just done in time for pub day!

 

Anyway, I waffle, because given this is the second book in the Veilbound Saga, I don't really want to say anything that will give any spoilers.

This book follows directly on from book 1 - Echoes Of Ember - and as such the characters are already deep in their mission and well established.

 

I loved the first book so much, but I have to say that I think I loved this one even more (which happens a lot!).

With all our favourite characters returning - full of mischief, banter and of course more spice than you can handle - they face an old enemy and a new mystery - but I loved that we also discover an unexpected ally who not only helps the team at Ossory Court to progress their plan - but also steals the heart of one of my favourite characters.

 

I adored this new relationship and the way this all set up and developed through the book.

Talk about abstaining - not something we're used to with this gang - but it really works so well and let me tell you, when they finally succomb, it's spectacular!

 

I don't think it's too much of a spoiler to say that I absolutely couldn't get enough of Iska.

Such an amazing new character - sarcastic, biting comments and of course, loved Cassias - as we all do!

 

This was packed with action from start to finish and I only wanted to scream at Shauna twice ....ok maybe more times - such a tease and I think I had the fear of her wrath from around 17% in!

 

Yes, I cried.

Some happy tears, but lots of sad ones too and I feel like I didn't breath for the last battle at all!

You may have redeemed yourself slightly!!

 

But that ending - I knew it was coming...but yep, we have another cliffhanger and it's a killer!

I hope you're all prepared for another emotional rollercoaster - but of course it's worth every second of pain because I absolutely love this series so much!

[Brandi Venema · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an arc for this book . First and foremost, make sure you always check your trigger warnings before reading any book.
Oh how I absolutely adore this world!!!! Not only do we get more Terinan, Fiadh, Rian And the others our Cassias finally finds the love of his life!!!! Aerin the Millennia old Faye Prince/ general who is sin walking. This book had me rolling with all the banter. The arguments, Cassias's rants will make you just giggle and you root for Cassias and Aerin the whole time. I had many mini heart attacks(not real ones) toward the end of the book and the way it ended, the last scene has me devastated and needing to know more. I love the ratings at the end. I would absolutely recommend this book!!! It has all the goodies it has Faye, humans, vampires, vampire fae, and the loads of neat creatures. Shauna did not disappoint yet again. I cannot wait for the next book I need it like right now

[Leigh's Little Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Shauna's best book by far!

I love this series and the way she has written these two pivotal characters is devastatingly beautiful!

Cas and Aerin are one of the best couples ive read and some of the scenes were so good I had to message Shauna in the middle of the night just to tell her so!

This book has everything you would expect from Shauna. There's the wit and the humour, There's the vulnerability and growth. But in this one, the love story isnt your typical enemies to lovers. It's not all about the physical, much to Cas's annoyance but more uncomfortably personal. Aerin and Cas have their own issues but the way they are drawn together makes them one incredible couple.

Its obviously not all about those two, and the veilbound saga continues with more surprises, more new characters to keep our eyes on and a cliff hanger that will make you need the next book ASAP (and not just because it's Rian's book 😍)

[Gina Tricoglus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review

Shadows of Ash by @📚 Shauna 🇮🇪
5.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4🌶️

Holy moley what a book i have just read! This was a damn good read! Vampires being unhinged in the best way, the banter within their little found family, the heart break, the healing, just everything worked seamlessly!

Shauna is an indie author here on booktok and this is why i love finding indie authors because they have the best books going so far for me!

This book focuses more on Cassias and his love interest, so therefore its an MM romance, and its done so bloody well the tension the yearning! When it was getting hot and hevay my god i kicked my feet and giggled!

Iska that little badass has my heart and thats all i have to say!

Please please if you love paranormal, well written vampires with unhinged banter then go get this series right now!!

[Miss Francess Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to be back in this world with two of my favourite chaos nightmares aka Fiadh and Tiernan and the rest of the family,

This book carries on from where book 1 ends, it also introduces new characters, the story gets more chaotic and I love it, Fiadh is still a badass and just gets better throughout the book Tiernan is an absolute menace which is on track for him,

The main love interests in this book is Aerin and Cassias, the way they fall for each other while healing each other's broken peices is chef's kiss, amazing, the go from enemy rivals to lovers, the slowburn tension is perfect, there's so much depth to their relationship and it's a hard won happiness that they have,

When you read this be prepared to laugh and cry multiple times so get tissues and snacks and clear everything you have to do because you won't be able to put this book down,

The spice from Fiadh and Tiernan just gets better but the spice from Aerin and Cassias is perfect 👌🏻



Be warned this does end on a cliffhanger as the series isn't finished and as for that cliffhanger well done 👏🏼