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A Reckoning of Ink and Ash: Echoes of the Veil
496 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 13, 2026
About the author
Danielle A. Lincoln
5 books35 followersDanielle A. Lincoln writes dark fantasy for readers who crave shadow-kissed magic, fierce heroines, and stories that linger long after the last page. She is the author of the Echoes of the Veil series—a haunting, slow-burn fantasy romance set within the eerie walls of Drakestone Academy.
Canadian by birth and gothic at heart, Danielle lives with her husband, two wild-hearted kids, and a bull terrier who believes he’s the real main character. When she’s not writing, she’s brewing coffee, collecting black lace, or wandering through the forest with a book in her hand.
Canadian by birth and gothic at heart, Danielle lives with her husband, two wild-hearted kids, and a bull terrier who believes he’s the real main character. When she’s not writing, she’s brewing coffee, collecting black lace, or wandering through the forest with a book in her hand.
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June 16, 2026
I received this book as an e-ARC, and this review is a voluntary submission of my thoughts, feelings and opinions of the work.
Oh. My. God.
Dani Lincoln is a mastermind of mood, atmosphere, and storytelling. The world she has created in this series is absolutely remarkable and I cannot express how beautiful and captivating this story is!
A Reckoning of Ink and Ash is the fourth and final instalment of the Echoes of the Veil series. It picks up right where A Thread of Fate and Ruin leaves off.
The journey that the characters embark on is of epic proportions, and though they have the support of the faculty of Drakestone, I don’t think anyone fully believed the group would return. This is a multi-POV written story, and we get EVERY perspective- main characters and villain alike. This style of writing might be my favourite because it gives the reader such a wonderful perspective of the story. The build up through the trials and tribulations of the journey is of absolutely epic proportions and it feels like things cannot possibly get anymore difficult for our MMCs and FMCs. You can feel something is going to happen, and as a reader you can’t help but just keep going, knowing full well that Ms Lincoln is going to rip your heart out… but we all kind of want it to happen don’t we?!
Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that the way Ms Lincoln walks the reader through the ups and downs of the journey, the aftermath and through the characters’ grief is profound. I don’t think I have ever read anything that really truly captures the throes of grief, loss, and healing the way that she has in this story. It is truly a beautiful thing, and by the end of the story I had tears I couldn’t even express. The epilogue is so beautiful and tragic and healing… 💜 and one character who I was set on hating initially turned out to be a character I identified with deeply… give this series a read. I promise you, you WILL NOT be disappointed!
This book (and series) contain:
-dark academia (adult)
-mild and tasteful open door spice
-found family
-magical duels with on page death and violence
-forbidden love
-gothic style writing
Trigger warnings-
-death, grief, traumatic loss (on page)
-toxic legacy
-intimacy, sensuality, consensual sex
-implied threat
-themes of power, control, manipulation, fractured memories.
Some of my favourite moments-
“The fire within me was fading, but it wasn’t gone. And as long as I could move, neither was I. We didn’t have time to stand still”
“Fearlessness is a story we tell about people we have not watched closely. Be brave instead. Brave is slower. Brave is a choice you renew. Brave is walking into the infirmary after you could not save a friend and sitting with the ones who survived, even when the chair looks like failure.”
“There will be mornings when the bed feels like a loyal friend and afternoons when it feels like a trap with sheets. On those days, light one small lamp. It might be an actual lamp. It might be a message to a friend. It might be the first paragraph of a letter you never send. It might be the act of opening a window and letting the weather have you for five minutes. Small light is still light. The shadows hate a steady ember more than a bonfire, because embers persist.”
“You stood in the company of your fear and didn’t let it author the last line.”
“There will be days when the rain does not sound like kindness,” he said. “On those days, find me. I will show you a corner of the library where the dust has been saving a seat. We will drink something terrible and sweet. We will count the breaths together until your lungs remember their job.”
“The dead do not ask us to carry their silence. They ask us to carry their share of the light.”
“Outside the hidden chamber, Drakestone breathed on. Life moved forward. Lanterns burned. Students planned futures that didn’t end in shadow. Somewhere, under a familiar tree, a lantern flame burned blue and steady for the one we had lost.”
“What bound them wasn’t something spoken aloud. It was what they had seen, what they had carried out of the dark, what had been taken and would never be given back.”
Oh. My. God.
Dani Lincoln is a mastermind of mood, atmosphere, and storytelling. The world she has created in this series is absolutely remarkable and I cannot express how beautiful and captivating this story is!
A Reckoning of Ink and Ash is the fourth and final instalment of the Echoes of the Veil series. It picks up right where A Thread of Fate and Ruin leaves off.
The journey that the characters embark on is of epic proportions, and though they have the support of the faculty of Drakestone, I don’t think anyone fully believed the group would return. This is a multi-POV written story, and we get EVERY perspective- main characters and villain alike. This style of writing might be my favourite because it gives the reader such a wonderful perspective of the story. The build up through the trials and tribulations of the journey is of absolutely epic proportions and it feels like things cannot possibly get anymore difficult for our MMCs and FMCs. You can feel something is going to happen, and as a reader you can’t help but just keep going, knowing full well that Ms Lincoln is going to rip your heart out… but we all kind of want it to happen don’t we?!
Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that the way Ms Lincoln walks the reader through the ups and downs of the journey, the aftermath and through the characters’ grief is profound. I don’t think I have ever read anything that really truly captures the throes of grief, loss, and healing the way that she has in this story. It is truly a beautiful thing, and by the end of the story I had tears I couldn’t even express. The epilogue is so beautiful and tragic and healing… 💜 and one character who I was set on hating initially turned out to be a character I identified with deeply… give this series a read. I promise you, you WILL NOT be disappointed!
This book (and series) contain:
-dark academia (adult)
-mild and tasteful open door spice
-found family
-magical duels with on page death and violence
-forbidden love
-gothic style writing
Trigger warnings-
-death, grief, traumatic loss (on page)
-toxic legacy
-intimacy, sensuality, consensual sex
-implied threat
-themes of power, control, manipulation, fractured memories.
Some of my favourite moments-
“The fire within me was fading, but it wasn’t gone. And as long as I could move, neither was I. We didn’t have time to stand still”
“Fearlessness is a story we tell about people we have not watched closely. Be brave instead. Brave is slower. Brave is a choice you renew. Brave is walking into the infirmary after you could not save a friend and sitting with the ones who survived, even when the chair looks like failure.”
“There will be mornings when the bed feels like a loyal friend and afternoons when it feels like a trap with sheets. On those days, light one small lamp. It might be an actual lamp. It might be a message to a friend. It might be the first paragraph of a letter you never send. It might be the act of opening a window and letting the weather have you for five minutes. Small light is still light. The shadows hate a steady ember more than a bonfire, because embers persist.”
“You stood in the company of your fear and didn’t let it author the last line.”
“There will be days when the rain does not sound like kindness,” he said. “On those days, find me. I will show you a corner of the library where the dust has been saving a seat. We will drink something terrible and sweet. We will count the breaths together until your lungs remember their job.”
“The dead do not ask us to carry their silence. They ask us to carry their share of the light.”
“Outside the hidden chamber, Drakestone breathed on. Life moved forward. Lanterns burned. Students planned futures that didn’t end in shadow. Somewhere, under a familiar tree, a lantern flame burned blue and steady for the one we had lost.”
“What bound them wasn’t something spoken aloud. It was what they had seen, what they had carried out of the dark, what had been taken and would never be given back.”
June 15, 2026
A Reckoning of Ink and Ash is the final book in the Echoes of the Veil series and serves as pretty much the perfect possible conclusion to the series, checking off literally all of my boxes for a fantasy book ending. It’s an epic journey filled with adventures and missteps that remains deeply emotional and relatable amongst the death and despair. This book most of all is the epitome of what I’m calling a “quest book” and that journey is thoroughly enjoyable as the characters move around and encounter different problems. And perhaps best of all, each and every character and relationship combination (both platonic and romantic) are so real, giving the reader plenty to obsess over and fall in love with. The main group of characters in this series are all uniquely deep and relatable in a way that sets up this series to be deeply relatable for a wide variety of audiences because so many different people are guaranteed to find a character they relate to. The writing continues to be absolutely gorgeous in all the best ways. There are moments throughout the book where something is being thought or said that, while directed towards a character, comes off the page as either a message to the reader or as a moment to be deeply relatable. It’s moments like these that can genuinely feel like a hug in written form and I absolutely adore this entire series for exactly that reason.
June 6, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/5🌟
What an epic conclusion to this beautifully gothic and poetic story! This series is a beautiful yet heavy story about friendship, purpose, love, loss and growth. And it is wonderful! A Reckoning of Ink and Ash is the fourth and final book in the series. The found family here is everything and excuse me, a sentient forest!? My gosh, the descriptions in this book! They are so good…you know exactly where you are and how it feels and what these characters are going through. This story is multi POV and being able to move throughout these trials through the eyes of multiple narrators really makes a well rounded experience and makes it certain that you will fall in love with each and every character. Well, not every character…you’ll find out. Check your TWs as usual, there are heavy themes in this book but the author writes in such a caring and thoughtful way. Thank you to the author for the eARC. This voluntary review is my honest thoughts and opinions about the book. There is open door spice in this story but without a lot of descriptive dirty talk. I’d rate 1.5/5 🌶️
I think you will love this book (the whole series in fact!) if you love:
Found family
Dark academia (but make it adult)
Magical duels and fighting
Sentient forests
Forbidden love
Gothic and poetic writing
Quotes that I love
“For those who walked into the dark so others could walk into the dawn,”
“You’re not real.” She smiled again. “Neither are half the things we tell ourselves to survive.”
“But because when everything in you could have turned bitter, you chose hope instead.”
“I just wanted you to know that you matter to more than one person.”
“Fear is a lantern. It shows you where the edges are. It makes you careful with the steps you might otherwise rush.”
“Small light is still light. The shadows hate a steady ember more than a bonfire, because embers persist.”
“One more thing,” he added, the words quieter. “The dead do not ask us to carry their silence. They ask us to carry their share of the light.”
“You walked the longest night. You reached the morning.”
5/5🌟
What an epic conclusion to this beautifully gothic and poetic story! This series is a beautiful yet heavy story about friendship, purpose, love, loss and growth. And it is wonderful! A Reckoning of Ink and Ash is the fourth and final book in the series. The found family here is everything and excuse me, a sentient forest!? My gosh, the descriptions in this book! They are so good…you know exactly where you are and how it feels and what these characters are going through. This story is multi POV and being able to move throughout these trials through the eyes of multiple narrators really makes a well rounded experience and makes it certain that you will fall in love with each and every character. Well, not every character…you’ll find out. Check your TWs as usual, there are heavy themes in this book but the author writes in such a caring and thoughtful way. Thank you to the author for the eARC. This voluntary review is my honest thoughts and opinions about the book. There is open door spice in this story but without a lot of descriptive dirty talk. I’d rate 1.5/5 🌶️
I think you will love this book (the whole series in fact!) if you love:
Found family
Dark academia (but make it adult)
Magical duels and fighting
Sentient forests
Forbidden love
Gothic and poetic writing
Quotes that I love
“For those who walked into the dark so others could walk into the dawn,”
“You’re not real.” She smiled again. “Neither are half the things we tell ourselves to survive.”
“But because when everything in you could have turned bitter, you chose hope instead.”
“I just wanted you to know that you matter to more than one person.”
“Fear is a lantern. It shows you where the edges are. It makes you careful with the steps you might otherwise rush.”
“Small light is still light. The shadows hate a steady ember more than a bonfire, because embers persist.”
“One more thing,” he added, the words quieter. “The dead do not ask us to carry their silence. They ask us to carry their share of the light.”
“You walked the longest night. You reached the morning.”
June 15, 2026
Thank you to the author for a gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A Reckoning of Ink & Ash is book 4 and the final book in the Echoes of the Veil series and just like the others it does not disappoint. The characters continue on their high stakes life or death journey, and I am so sad to see it come to its conclusion, but it is such an amazing journey and adventure. I have connected and become close to the characters throughout the series and almost consider them friends, like I was experiencing their journey right alongside them. Just like the other books in the series it gets a little darker, the atmosphere a little drearier, the emotions heavier, and the stakes higher. It is written so beautifully and so descriptive I was pulled right in and easily got lost in it. This time the relics they fought so hard to reveal must be unmade. Loyalties and friendships are tested, and you get to find out if prophecy always turns out to be as prophesied. Overall, I love this series, and although I’m sad to see it come to an end, it was such a great conclusion.
I highly recommend to anyone who loves dark academia, magic, magical trials, secrets, found family, band of misfits, emotional damage, and fight for survival.
A Reckoning of Ink & Ash is book 4 and the final book in the Echoes of the Veil series and just like the others it does not disappoint. The characters continue on their high stakes life or death journey, and I am so sad to see it come to its conclusion, but it is such an amazing journey and adventure. I have connected and become close to the characters throughout the series and almost consider them friends, like I was experiencing their journey right alongside them. Just like the other books in the series it gets a little darker, the atmosphere a little drearier, the emotions heavier, and the stakes higher. It is written so beautifully and so descriptive I was pulled right in and easily got lost in it. This time the relics they fought so hard to reveal must be unmade. Loyalties and friendships are tested, and you get to find out if prophecy always turns out to be as prophesied. Overall, I love this series, and although I’m sad to see it come to an end, it was such a great conclusion.
I highly recommend to anyone who loves dark academia, magic, magical trials, secrets, found family, band of misfits, emotional damage, and fight for survival.
June 12, 2026
I think I need to go touch grass right now to ground myself back in reality because HOLY.
This is by far one of the best books I’ve ever read. The whole series has been an incredibly rollercoaster that I am obsessed with. I’m still not ready to let these characters go.
This book from start to finish is full of so much adventure through their final journey to destroy the relics and the Umbra Gate, while also trying to defeat the Lord of Shadows.
Not once did I guess where the book was going. Some can be predictable (in a good way), but this led me no clue as to what would happen next. I think I hid half my face in my sweater for most of the book ending from how anxious I was.
It was heart pounding, darkly poetic, heartbreakingly beautiful, and such a perfect way to end the series.
I laughed, I cried my face off, I smiled, I freaked out. It was so emotional.
Another amazing part is this whole book is a dual POV from all the characters, which gives you so much depth and understanding. It was great for a book with so much storyline! 👏🏻
Danielle paints such a vivid portrait of the books. I envisioned it all in my mind as a movie playing in perfect detail. It was beyond perfection.
This whole series is a must read and needs so much recognition. It needs to be everywhere and they need to make movies out of this series because gah!!! PERFECTION!
This is by far one of the best books I’ve ever read. The whole series has been an incredibly rollercoaster that I am obsessed with. I’m still not ready to let these characters go.
This book from start to finish is full of so much adventure through their final journey to destroy the relics and the Umbra Gate, while also trying to defeat the Lord of Shadows.
Not once did I guess where the book was going. Some can be predictable (in a good way), but this led me no clue as to what would happen next. I think I hid half my face in my sweater for most of the book ending from how anxious I was.
It was heart pounding, darkly poetic, heartbreakingly beautiful, and such a perfect way to end the series.
I laughed, I cried my face off, I smiled, I freaked out. It was so emotional.
Another amazing part is this whole book is a dual POV from all the characters, which gives you so much depth and understanding. It was great for a book with so much storyline! 👏🏻
Danielle paints such a vivid portrait of the books. I envisioned it all in my mind as a movie playing in perfect detail. It was beyond perfection.
This whole series is a must read and needs so much recognition. It needs to be everywhere and they need to make movies out of this series because gah!!! PERFECTION!
June 12, 2026
I was sad to see this story end, but I found it to be an overall good one. It was nice to see and learn so much through the series. We got the multitude of different characters with ever changing relationships, romantic and platonic. We learn so much about the deeper working of the academy. We got to see these characters grow independently and as a team and face various challenges and dangers. I enjoyed seeing these characters grow mundaneness of the classes compared to the deeper questions about the academy. These characters faced lots of danger, pain and loss. The series was great and I loved the books. The pacing could seem slow as they were long but overall it picked up and kept me at the edge of my seat.
I appreciate having received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I appreciate having received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2026
What an absolutely amazing way to write this finale. It was everything one could expect. The world building was phenomenal. The description was so vivid. Just beautiful details throughout. I could see this play out so well in my mind. I felt like I was right there with everyone. This was a very captivating and amazing read. Absolutely loved it.
June 14, 2026
Guys….. WTF.
Seriously one of THE BEST series I’ve read all year. I’ve been on a reading high this entire time and couldn’t pick up another book because this had lived rent free in my brain since!
Thank you Danny for allowing me the opportunity to have Advance Reader copy of this!
This is seriously one of the best series I’ve read lately, the found family, this epic conclusion. UGH *chef kiss*
Seriously one of THE BEST series I’ve read all year. I’ve been on a reading high this entire time and couldn’t pick up another book because this had lived rent free in my brain since!
Thank you Danny for allowing me the opportunity to have Advance Reader copy of this!
This is seriously one of the best series I’ve read lately, the found family, this epic conclusion. UGH *chef kiss*
May 31, 2026
A Reckoning of Ink and Ash was everything I hoped the finale to the Echoes of the Veil series would be.
As someone who has read all four books, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Elvana, Samael, and this world Danielle A. Lincoln created. From the very first page, I was pulled right back into the story and reminded why this series has become such a favorite.
Danielle has a rare gift for making you feel completely immersed in her worlds. The way she writes reminds me of the feeling I get reading Sarah J. Maas—you don’t just read the story, you live inside it. Every victory, every heartbreak, every moment of hope and fear feels real.
This final installment is packed with action, emotion, and impossible choices. The multiple POVs added so much depth to the story, allowing us to better understand both the heroes and the villains. There wasn’t a single dull moment.
Most of all, this book made me FEEL. The stakes are higher than ever, the themes are darker, and the emotional impact hits hard. Be prepared for heartbreak, tears, and a finale that will stay with you long after the last page.
If you’ve been following this series from the beginning, this conclusion is absolutely worth the journey.
As someone who has read all four books, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Elvana, Samael, and this world Danielle A. Lincoln created. From the very first page, I was pulled right back into the story and reminded why this series has become such a favorite.
Danielle has a rare gift for making you feel completely immersed in her worlds. The way she writes reminds me of the feeling I get reading Sarah J. Maas—you don’t just read the story, you live inside it. Every victory, every heartbreak, every moment of hope and fear feels real.
This final installment is packed with action, emotion, and impossible choices. The multiple POVs added so much depth to the story, allowing us to better understand both the heroes and the villains. There wasn’t a single dull moment.
Most of all, this book made me FEEL. The stakes are higher than ever, the themes are darker, and the emotional impact hits hard. Be prepared for heartbreak, tears, and a finale that will stay with you long after the last page.
If you’ve been following this series from the beginning, this conclusion is absolutely worth the journey.
May 31, 2026
This book is the fourth and the last one of The Echoes of the Veil series.
I took my time to read this book because I knew it was the last one and I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the characters and this world.
I loved that we picked up right where we left off at the end of book 3, making it so easy to dive right back into the story. And damn what a roller coaster this book was.
For Elvana, Samael, and their friends, it becomes a race against time and the shadows determined to destroy them. Even though they have support from the academy, they are left alone for this final fight.
So much is happening in this book and there wasn’t a dull moment.
I also loved the multiple POVs. They helped me better understand each character, even the villains.
Their journey is coming to an end, but will everyone survive? And if they do, at what cost?”
The themes in this book are darker but everything flows so beautifully. The author has that touch with words so you FEEL everything and if I can give you one advice is to be prepared for emotional damage.
This series is one of my favorite ever and I wish I could it read it for the first time.
I took my time to read this book because I knew it was the last one and I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the characters and this world.
I loved that we picked up right where we left off at the end of book 3, making it so easy to dive right back into the story. And damn what a roller coaster this book was.
For Elvana, Samael, and their friends, it becomes a race against time and the shadows determined to destroy them. Even though they have support from the academy, they are left alone for this final fight.
So much is happening in this book and there wasn’t a dull moment.
I also loved the multiple POVs. They helped me better understand each character, even the villains.
Their journey is coming to an end, but will everyone survive? And if they do, at what cost?”
The themes in this book are darker but everything flows so beautifully. The author has that touch with words so you FEEL everything and if I can give you one advice is to be prepared for emotional damage.
This series is one of my favorite ever and I wish I could it read it for the first time.
July 12, 2026
Firstly, thank you Dani for allowing me to be ARC reader for the entirety of this series. I have grown with this characters and been along for the ride of their journey.
This last installment was a perfect ending to this series. I genuinely loved every character, though some more than others, and some surprisingly grew on me between the end of the 3rd book and half way through this book.
The action in this book kept you going, while the journey through the Hollow that were “slower” kept you wondering when the next climax would happen.
I am absolutely gutted and devastated by what happens in this book, and while I want to scream and cry, I will not give spoilers.
The perfect conclusion with every question answered and a feeling satisfaction when reading the final sentence.
Thank you again Dani for allowing me to be part of team, and for the friendships that have blossomed from being part of it.
This last installment was a perfect ending to this series. I genuinely loved every character, though some more than others, and some surprisingly grew on me between the end of the 3rd book and half way through this book.
The action in this book kept you going, while the journey through the Hollow that were “slower” kept you wondering when the next climax would happen.
I am absolutely gutted and devastated by what happens in this book, and while I want to scream and cry, I will not give spoilers.
The perfect conclusion with every question answered and a feeling satisfaction when reading the final sentence.
Thank you again Dani for allowing me to be part of team, and for the friendships that have blossomed from being part of it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this book early and I loved it! I have LOVED this whole series. Elvana, Sam 🥵 and their friends risk EVERYTHING to put an end to the Lord of Darkness and everything he is trying to do. If you haven’t read the 1st three books, make sure to do that before reading this. I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book and balling my eyes out the whole end of the book 😭. IYKYK! Definitely EMOTIONAL DAMAGE! I definitely recommend this entire series. So good ♥️.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews