Veil of Web and Ruin

The Hirathean Path #0.5

by Aria Ashbrook

Raised to heal. Now she'll kill.

Before the tournament. Before vengeance. Rose was just trying to survive.

After Prince Kyor’s betrayal shatters her family, Rose is stripped of magic and cast into the brutal slums beneath Wrohelm’s decadent High Hold. With her parents dead and her sister Kay’s future slipping away, survival is all that matters now.

So when the ruthless queen of the city’s criminal underworld offers Kay a chance at a better life, Rose agrees to one impossible task: steal a lethal plant from the Goddess’s sacred temple gardens.

A theft punishable by death.

But the deeper Rose ventures into Wrohelm’s ringed city, the more dangerous the night becomes. Priestesses preach mercy while dealing in bloodshed. Dire wolves stalk the shadows. And the Goddess of Life sees everything.

When the heist spirals into violence, Rose discovers that desperation can turn even a healer into a killer.

This gripping romantasy prequel is perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros, Sarah J Maas and Carissa Broadbent, featuring a dark fantasy world, loyal sisters, and an underdog heroine willing to kill for those she loves.

Prequel to the award-winning romantasy sensation Web of Vows and Vengeance.

Tropes include:
• Enemies to lovers
• Slow-burn romance
• Deadly trials and tournaments
• Morally grey characters
• Forced proximity
• Royal MMC
• Secrets and lies
• Political tension and rebellion
• Gods, magic, and betrayal

Winner of Best Fantasy Romance (The BookFest Awards 2026) and Best Fantasy Read (Pascify Con Awards 2026).

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Audiobook, Romance, Novella, Magic, Fantasy Romance

146 pages, Paperback

First published June 3, 2026

Reviews

[tiana ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the prequel to the first book in The Hirathean Path series! It takes place before the events of Web of Vows and Vengeance, which I’m now extremely excited to read next! 🤭🫶 I know a lot of people read this after having read the first book, however I decided to read this in the timeline order.

I really enjoyed reading from Rose’s POV, she’s a great main character, resilient and caring. I’m actually even more excited to follow her journey in the first book of the series following this introduction! This prequel works well as a set up; it gives you an idea of the context, the setting, of what has happened in Rose’s life to place her in the slums. And it also sets up what I assume will be the plot in book 1. 👀

I have to say as a note, if you haven’t read anything from this series yet like me, it might take a bit to figure out the different references and how this world is set up. Thankfully, I was using the trusted map from book one as reference so I could locate everything. 😂 I’m excited to see what the authors do with the magic system and with all these different locations!

Extremely excited to now pick up book one 🥰💖

[Rach · Rating 3 out of 5]

This gave good context to what life was like for Rose in the slums but I do feel like it could have been incorporated into the first novel and didn’t need to be a novella but oh well!

[Annabel (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75⭐️ for me!
ALOT HAPPENED though this was just a prequel novella, and a hair short of 100 pages. Honestly, I am already so invested in the world building & characters from the jump!! Pretty surprised that I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would, considering it's a novella.

I was shocked to find a spice scene (2🌶) in this as well, not complaining because I love it LOL

loved the writing style - it scratches my brain in all the right ways, very immersive in fact! I felt emotionally invested and cared about the characters though this was just supposed to be an introduction to their world & back story.
There were elements of suspense, action, and even moments where I was at the edge of my seat, or felt scared on the FMC's behalf - tbh I genuinely just started feeling for her, and it means that the writing style is just that immersive!!

I like how we dove in-depth into the FMC Rose's motivations, and I guess the reasons behind her vengeance (title of the first book). It's giving misunderstandings and diabolical reveals in the upcoming book, and I am just really excited to find out more. It's pretty clear that the MMC in the main story will be her sworn enemy, and I just KNOW the enemies to lovers will eat so hard (hopefully).
I'm also liking her character (as of prequel, not sure how she is in the main story) - one that is really selfless, sacrificial, and just willing to do what it takes to protect the people she loves.

Really glad I read this before diving into book one straight away because there's a great foundation laid in terms of the world building and context. The plot itself was really intriguing, the magic system & world building also have elements that pique my interest, and leave me wanting to find out what they are.

this ended off on a high note & mini cliffhanger, which makes me want to just jump right into book one straight away to see how everything unfolds.

see you guys at book one!

[fatemeh · Rating 3 out of 5]

می‌دونم از جلد نیم نباید انتظار خاصی داشته باشم ولی دیگه حداقل یه اتفاقی باید توش بیفته دیگه؟ وگرنا اصلا نوشتش برای چی بود؟ اینجا رسما هیچ چیز خاصی پیش نیومد و صرفا با شخصیت‌ها آشنا شدیم.(چیزی که خیلی راحت تو جلد اول می‌تونست نشون بده؟) ولی خب کرکترهاش جالب بودن کنجکاوم ادامه‌ش رو بخونم.

[Iliana Tee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short prequel addition to the series that offered a little more insight into the characters, their relationships, and the backstory.

More bonus content than essential reading, but a nice bridge between books for anyone wanting a little more time in the world before continuing the series.

[Nash Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun little novella. There is not much in terms of valuable knowledge gained. This novella gave us some background on Rose and her slums situationship with Rueben. There wasn't much to review but I really enjoyed hearing more stories about Rose.

[jam (jamrreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

this was a fun little prequel to web of vows and vengeance! it was cool to see how rose and kay were fairing prior to rose participating in the retterheld.

love the dynamic between rueben and rose, so i’m curious to see if he’ll make an appearance in book 2 (i wouldn’t mind more jealous kyor 🤭).

unfortunately, i disliked kay after the end of web so until she redeems herself.. shes staying as one of my least favourite characters in this series 🙈.

[BookMarkedbyNicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella had so much. I am seriously loving this series

[Scarlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟
A short, delicious prequel novella to A Web of Vows and Vengeance that deepens the world and gives insight tothe gods, and gives you MORE Rose. And if you know me, you know that Rose is one of my my all-time favourite FMCs. In this novella, she's still out here being a baddie whilst also breaking my heart with how much she loves and cares for her sister.

The World-Building
I came into this already invested in the world of Web of Vows and Vengeance, but this novella added a new layer. I believe you can read this before reading Book 1. I read this in publication order so I read it after. I don't think it matters too much.

Rose
This novella deepened my understanding of Rose's intentions and her motivations in a way that made me love her even more! She is so fierce and gives off so much feminine rage. I wish I had a sister like her.

"Because if there is a Retterheld coming, if there is even a slim chance of claiming a single wish from the Goddess, one that would restore our powers and deliver vengeance upon the king and his son, then the Gods know I will take it."

I cannot wait for her to walking into more divine CHAOS! Lets go!

The Audiobook
Anthony Palmini and Amanda Leigh Cobb deliver duet narration as amazing as ever, so obviously I highly recommend the audio format. AND for 99p on ebook? One of the best value purchases I've made this year.

🩷 Tropes:
🩷 Friends with Benefits to... Lovers?
🌙 Gods / Celestials
🔥 Feminine rage / Strong FMC
💔 Trauma
🩷 Found family and Strong Female Friendships!
🔮 Prophecies / Fate
👑 Court politics / Royals

🌶️ Spice:
2/5

Recommendation:
If you haven't read Web of Vows and Vengeance yet, then go pick it up after reading this. And if you're already a Rose girlie? You need this novella in your life!. For fans of Fourth Wing and Serpent and the Wings of Night who wants high stakes trials, an MMC with a world with an FMC who actually uses her brain. 😂

[Jordan Miner · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3.5 stars, this was a fun little heist novella to bridge the gap before the events of Web of Vows and Vengeance! While it did feel a bit like a filler story at times, I still enjoyed it. It added some extra context to the world, and I liked getting a glimpse into how Rose and Kay were surviving in the slums before everything unfolded. It wasn't necessarily essential to the overall plot (imo at least before I’ve read book 2), but it was an entertaining read that made me appreciate their journey even more.

[The Fated Shelves · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐4 🌶️ 1

OMG, this is very promising!! Looking forward to continuing to read this series. I love Rose for now, and I can't wait to see what is happening with her in this incredible, entertaining world

[Stephanie Keijzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great starting novella of this series. I am obsessed already and can't wait to start book 1 in the serie📚🤩

[Karrissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this after book 2 and it wasn't bad. Its obvious Rueben always had feelings so I am not sure why Rose tried saying they were FWB's but NSA. She KNEW he wanted more.

I think she shelters Kay too much and that is why she is the brat she is. Kay was close friends with Talia who was a streetworker what made Rose think Kay wouldn't know what goes on in the slums and her friend wouldn't tell her? Rose played herself with her sister. She lets love blind her like she did with Kyor.

A woman named Ailia makes strange remarks to Rose and a man does as well in the end of the book..It makes sense why they said what they did with how book 2 ended.

Rose's mom was left at the temple of Etta which is Goddess is Life..and her moms surname means "child of god". I am not sure but I think that is going to play into book 3 on who exactly Ms. Rose is.

[Baltza Mika Hagara · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars ✨✨✨✨✨! honestly, i think that this series is one my top 3 favorites ever! 😭💖 but idk... we'll see... i still have to read one more book and we are waiting for another one. maybe, i will change my mind! 🤷‍♀️😭🔥💋

[Jennifer Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok ok Im hooked I received the ALC and yea now all the other books that were on deck will have to wait onto book 1.

[Anna Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look this absolutely didn't need to be a novella, it could've simply been added into the first book, but just like book one it was great and I enjoyed it.

Now onto book two!

[Brenda P · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the prequel book for The Hirathean Path series. This gives a bit of a back story for the characters and sets up for the first book in the series. Short book and okay plot.

[WickedWolfLore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ALC of this book; all opinions are my own.

5 ⭐️
2 🌶

The way I ran when I saw this prequel was available. This short prequel was everything I needed as a little filler and tease until I get my hands on book 2. I absolutely devoured book 1, Web of Vows and Vengeance. This prequel gives us a glimpse of Rose's life and what she needed to do to survive prior to Book 1. I read book 1 first but I think it can be read in either first or second. This was a great one sitting read and now I am amped up and impatiently waiting for book 2.

Audiobook thoughts:
Absolutely love the way Amanda Leigh Cobb and Anthony Palmini performed in duet narration with this one. I definitely got my little fill while waiting for book 2.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok these audiobooks are AWESOME! IM OBSESSED! I can’t get enough. The acting and voices done by the actors are so distinct! Loved every second of this!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veil of Web and Ruin is the novella prequel to Web of Vows and Vengeance but don’t sleep on it! We get a little more insight into the backstory and life in the sixth ring. Not necessary to the main story, but provides a little more foreshadowing and motivation for the FMC going into book 1.

[Christina Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 star read. This quick prequel is again filled with adventure and excitement. It helps to fill in Roses story whilst in the slums and builds on the already good world building.

[Hannah · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Such a fun little Novella prequel Novella for a VOWaV! Absolutely recommend there was the perfect blend of adventure, spice, and fun! I wonder if there will be dire wolves in books 2 or 3, I sure hope so! Also, what’s this tonic they’re drinking? I’m curious! You’ll love this if you’re a fan of TOG or the Powerful Novella. Can’t wait for book two!

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars ⭐️

I’m not really sure about the supposed reading order of this series (because some prequels are meant to be read AFTER the first book or at least they are RELEASED after the first book). But since I had all three books in my audio library, I decided to start at the beginning with the Prequel.

After finishing this book and being over halfway through the first book, I DO think I would have gotten more out of it AFTER finishing Book 1. But, that’s just me.

In this book we are introduced to FMC Rose and her younger sister Kay. We learn about the events that got them into their current circumstances, and we met a possible romantic love interest. Other than that, it was a short story/novella length book that was a quick and easy read.

After I was about halfway into the first (next) book, I started seeing some possible connections to the prequel, but they are only suppositions at this point. I can definitely say that the reading order doesn’t matter too much.

The one thing it did was give more background on the relationship between Kay and Rose and how utterly over protective Rose is towards her younger sister. I came out of the prequel thinking Kay was about 12 or 13, but found out in the first book that she was 18. That means in the prequel she was at least 17, but probably already 18. She was written ( and treated by Rose) as a pre-teen. WOW - that was a definite eye opener. For some reason, I think this is going to come back and become a problem in the future. Again, I have no idea but all the signs are pointing that way.

Now I’m going back to finish Book one.

[Hayley Life.Books.&.Grem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Veil of Web and Ruin – ★★★½☆

A quick prequel that does a good job of setting the scene for Web of Vows and Vengeance.

This is very much an introduction to Rose and her sister, how they ended up living in the slums and some of the things Rose has had to do to keep them both alive. It also introduces a few characters and gives some background that I’m assuming will become important as the series continues.

It was interesting and I’m glad I read it before starting the main series, but it definitely felt more like a setup for book one than a story I’d rave about on its own.

I’m jumping straight into Web of Vows and Vengeance now, so hopefully all that background pays off.

There isn’t really a whole heap I need to say down here because this felt much more like setting the scene than telling a complete story.

We find out what happened to Rose and Kay’s parents, how the sisters ended up in the slums and get our first look at just how far Rose is willing to go to survive and protect her sister.

I think the biggest thing I’ll take from it is having that extra context for Rose going into book one. We already know what she’s lost, what she’s survived and why protecting Kay means so much to her.

3.5 stars feels right ★★★½☆ — a good introduction, but now I’m ready for the actual story to begin.

[Joleen Halloran · Rating 2 out of 5]

I rated this book 2 stars. This is book/novella 2.5 in the The Hirathean Path series, with the first being The Web of Vows & Vengeance. The only really notable thing about this book is that it is short. While the writing is OK and the character work is also adequate, this little book really served no purpose. It is marketed as a prequal to the series to lay the groundwork for the 1st book, but the author actually does that IN the first book too, so it was really just redundant. This novella added a few more details but nothing that adds to the character or the bigger plot significantly (at least as far as I can see – to be fair, I haven’t read the 2nd book yet, so it’s possible still I guess.)

I actually liked the first book, The Web of Vows & Vengeance. It was a pretty solid romantasy and I am planning on reading the next book – but I’m just scratching my head at why the author decided to add this novella. Maybe I’ll find out, or maybe I should have read it 1st or after the currently published books, but as of right now – I felt it was almost a waste of my reading time. Happy Reading!

[Michelle D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised that this also had a duet narration audiobook available!
This is a short prequel novella that shows our FMC prior to the events in Web Of Vows And Vengeance. I felt this helped me get to know her better, and showed how much she is devoted to her sister and would do anything to help her/protect her. I think this dynamic makes sense with her actions in book 1 and is important character background/development for the events upcoming in book 2.

I personally think this could be read before OR after Web Of Vows And Vengeance, there are not any major spoilers that I caught.
Since I have not read book 2 yet, I don't know how necessary any of the events are in the novella in order to continue the series

-prequel novella
-FMC agrees to heist/conspiracy in order to get a job for her younger sister
-independent FMC focused on providing for her family
-single POV, first person
-duet narration
-1/5 spice (a past fling, not the MMC we meet in book 1)

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

“How does my face look?”
“Other than startlingly beautiful?”

📖5⭐️
🎧📖5⭐️

I’m a bit sad to have read this prequel before books 1 and 2 but I enjoyed how it provided more insight to Rose, her sister, and Ruben.

I’m usually not a fan of prequels because I prefer my stories in chronological order so I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this one. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this! It’s a short and fast paced read with an added bonus that we get to see a bit of Rose and Ruben’s friends with benefit situation I craved to learn more of in the later books.

This book’s little cliffhanger sets up the story for book 1 pretty nicely!

Note to self (or anyone): read this book first before diving into Web of Vows and Vengeance. You’ll want the extra content going into WOVAV a much better experience.👌🏼


✔️Romantasy
✔️Deadly Heist
✔️Strong FMC
✔️Friends with benefits
✔️🎧📖Duet narration
✔️First person, single POV
✔️🌶️🌶️
✔️Book 0.5 in series

[Megan Witsche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review

This dark fantasy romance prequel is the perfect introduction to The Hirathean Path! 🖤

After Prince Kyor destroys Rose’s family and strips her of her magic, she and her younger sister are forced into the brutal slums of Wrohelm. Desperate to protect Kay, Rose accepts a deadly deal from the underworld queen: steal a poisonous hemlock plant from the Goddess’s heavily guarded temple.

What starts as a desperate attempt to save her sister quickly turns violent, forcing Rose to make choices that challenge everything she once believed.

I loved the morally gray characters, dangerous atmosphere, and glimpse into the gods, magic, and political tensions of the world. A fast, dark, high-stakes prequel that sets the stage perfectly for Web of Vows and Vengeance! 🌹⚔️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good dive into the world of Wrohelm.🖤

I especially enjoyed getting to know the FMC and getting a glimpse into her life, her struggles, and everything she’s had to deal with. I also loved seeing how much she cares about her sister and how important that relationship is to her. It gave the story a lot more emotional depth for me.🥹

As an introduction to the world and the FMC, I think this worked really well. It definitely left me curious to know more, and I can’t wait to get into the main series and explore more of this world, its characters, and everything this it has to offer.✨

[Kaycee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved jumping back into this world. It was great to see what Rose’s life was like pre Retterhold. I’ll be interested to see what happens with Ruben in the next book…. Instead of a love triangle what do we call this?!? It’s going to be so good. This really pumped me up for the next one. I really hope Rose gets a dire wolf.

I was hoping to get a better view of the night Kyors mom died and what life was like right after. This was not that. Instead it takes place 6 months after her dad died and not long before the Retterhold.