What do you think?
Ashen Wings
After an invasion killed the last Guardian Dragon—the only force capable of uniting the warring factions—mercenary Nova Lindwen lives by three hard truths:
1. Only the ruthless survive.
2. Hair dye never lasts.
3. Don’t ever trust a man with midnight eyes.
When a new job pulls Nova into Shadow—the faction of death—she collides with Jace Ashborne, its blood-bound king. Ruthless, infuriating, and dangerously powerful, Jace reveals an impossible secret: he possesses the last Guardian Dragon egg.
Now forced into an uneasy alliance, Nova and Jace must outrun rival factions, buried betrayals, and ancient enemies that feast on time itself.
But protecting the last dragon egg may cost Nova the one thing survival never demanded before: her heart.
1. Only the ruthless survive.
2. Hair dye never lasts.
3. Don’t ever trust a man with midnight eyes.
When a new job pulls Nova into Shadow—the faction of death—she collides with Jace Ashborne, its blood-bound king. Ruthless, infuriating, and dangerously powerful, Jace reveals an impossible secret: he possesses the last Guardian Dragon egg.
Now forced into an uneasy alliance, Nova and Jace must outrun rival factions, buried betrayals, and ancient enemies that feast on time itself.
But protecting the last dragon egg may cost Nova the one thing survival never demanded before: her heart.
414 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2026
About the author
D.L. Houpt
8 books129 followersFrom a young age, D. L. Houpt found herself escaping in the pages of novels. She loves writing stories, dreaming up magical worlds, and doom scrolling astrophysics videos that send her into an existential crisis. When she isn’t found typing up her new idea (most likely ignoring her husband to write), she’s in the garden with her daughter or enjoying a book with her sons.
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Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5⭐️
Thank you to the Author for the eARC.
Ok you ever read a book and it just hooks you? That was this book in the start. I was literally so intrigued by the fact there is dragons, dragon stones, a quest, etc.
The FMC, Nova is a total baddie with the fact that she can kill so many people at once BUT it is a bit confusing how she is said to just be more of an average fighter? It is a bit contradictory especially since she held her own against Isra and our MMC Jace.
Jace, I’m kind of obsessed with him. I mean his mouth??? I loved the way he teased and poked at Nova to make her react. And his secret???? I mean hello how freaking epic is that and he can just smell her🤭
My main issue with this though is that Nova did start to annoy me with her always talking about Jaces body to where I feel I did not learn much else about him. Also she had a sexual fantasy of Jace and Isra and her which was kind of weird and out of the blue to me.
I mean how can you say you aren’t attracted to him then you get drunk and yall are going back and forth to not have sex so you go and sexualize them both doing you??? It was weird to me. I was legit wondering if this was gonna be a Why choose book.
The ending???? Hello I freaking called it and loved it. I mean we love when someone FINALLY accepts who they are.
Thank you to the Author for the eARC.
Ok you ever read a book and it just hooks you? That was this book in the start. I was literally so intrigued by the fact there is dragons, dragon stones, a quest, etc.
The FMC, Nova is a total baddie with the fact that she can kill so many people at once BUT it is a bit confusing how she is said to just be more of an average fighter? It is a bit contradictory especially since she held her own against Isra and our MMC Jace.
Jace, I’m kind of obsessed with him. I mean his mouth??? I loved the way he teased and poked at Nova to make her react. And his secret???? I mean hello how freaking epic is that and he can just smell her🤭
My main issue with this though is that Nova did start to annoy me with her always talking about Jaces body to where I feel I did not learn much else about him. Also she had a sexual fantasy of Jace and Isra and her which was kind of weird and out of the blue to me.
I mean how can you say you aren’t attracted to him then you get drunk and yall are going back and forth to not have sex so you go and sexualize them both doing you??? It was weird to me. I was legit wondering if this was gonna be a Why choose book.
The ending???? Hello I freaking called it and loved it. I mean we love when someone FINALLY accepts who they are.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you for the Arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun one, that would have a higher rating...but there were some things that I could not let go.
The FMC is a slave, bought and raised to be an assassin consistently lied to about paying off her debt. She gets an opportunity for a job that should pay her debt and takes it, leading us to the the MMC and his gang.
Nova, the FMC is portrayed as an adequate fighter, yet an exellent assassin. She states she is better in the shadows than fighting directly.
Nova's "owner" for lack of a better word, does not want to lose her on the new job so he has insurance to make sure she returns...
Our MMC Jace Ashborne, has two people a woman named Roe, and his bestie Isra Kaari, who is a legendary fighter that hang out with him. And now we get to the biggest reason, I could not rate this book higer. From almost the moment upon meeting Nova, Jace is flirty and suggestive, giving readers the very obvious key in that he will be the romantic interest. And their banter is fun, Nova is does not trust him (makes sense since she is technically his captive) and wary. They travel and have some very cute moments on their joint effort quest....and its when they return to Jace's castle....
So then a loud noise is heard, Isra and Nova meet in the hallway to investigate.
Nova and Isra go downstairs to find Jace, and hes not having a great night so Isra then yells for Nova to leave and she does. TWO CHAPTERS LATER: Nova is still mad at Jace for some lying, and Jace also seems irritated. Roe makes a comments of "which one did you sleep with I cant tell" but Nova never says neither. Jace leaves while saying Isra and Nova need to chat...
So having such a large blaring plothole at 54% in the book was a bit alarming, possible it will be fixed before publishing. If it had not existed, I may have rated higher, but it really put me off.
This was a fun one, that would have a higher rating...but there were some things that I could not let go.
The FMC is a slave, bought and raised to be an assassin consistently lied to about paying off her debt. She gets an opportunity for a job that should pay her debt and takes it, leading us to the the MMC and his gang.
Nova, the FMC is portrayed as an adequate fighter, yet an exellent assassin. She states she is better in the shadows than fighting directly.
Nova's "owner" for lack of a better word, does not want to lose her on the new job so he has insurance to make sure she returns...
Our MMC Jace Ashborne, has two people a woman named Roe, and his bestie Isra Kaari, who is a legendary fighter that hang out with him. And now we get to the biggest reason, I could not rate this book higer. From almost the moment upon meeting Nova, Jace is flirty and suggestive, giving readers the very obvious key in that he will be the romantic interest. And their banter is fun, Nova is does not trust him (makes sense since she is technically his captive) and wary. They travel and have some very cute moments on their joint effort quest....and its when they return to Jace's castle....
So then a loud noise is heard, Isra and Nova meet in the hallway to investigate.
Nova and Isra go downstairs to find Jace, and hes not having a great night so Isra then yells for Nova to leave and she does. TWO CHAPTERS LATER: Nova is still mad at Jace for some lying, and Jace also seems irritated. Roe makes a comments of "which one did you sleep with I cant tell" but Nova never says neither. Jace leaves while saying Isra and Nova need to chat...
So having such a large blaring plothole at 54% in the book was a bit alarming, possible it will be fixed before publishing. If it had not existed, I may have rated higher, but it really put me off.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review for Ashen Wings by D.L. Houpt:
“The sun will rise soon. You should be going. Remember, little thing, the decision may be yours, but the cosmos have already forged our fates.”
Nova is Smoke's most ruthless mercenary, found by Finnick who purchased her as an orphan and slave. Jace is Shadows King, said to bring death to any who cross his borders unsanctioned. When their paths cross over a rare dragon egg, their history is what they make it.
“Gods be good, this continent was forged from greedy houses and slimy bastards.”
The descriptions that are given of each of the kingdoms are some of my fave parts of this story. The details and quirks in each breathe further life into what is happening with the characters. Like the landscapes themselves are their own characters. Thr characters also all have perfect fitting quirks. Right off I love Roe! She's got all the qualities you love in story; sass, anger, and deadly. Then there's Isra who you just gotta love.
Speaking of love, the tension and banter between the main characters is off the chart. But it takes a good portion of the book for them to act on anything. I do love me a long slow burn with sass! And gods, there's a scene where he draws her a bath, washes and brushes her hair. Makes me melt every time.
“You get to choose who you are. Not those that made you. It takes time, and the cycle is incredibly difficult to break, but you decide when to break it. You decide who you’ll be when the sun rises."
Scars are a major theme in this book. Scars on people, scars on land, scars in histories. Each character and landscape bares their own. Trying to heal those scars is what this tale is about. The relationships built as the story progresses are what aids in that healing. Each plays an integral role.
I want to thank the author and publisher for allowing me to be an early part of this book's journey. I really enjoyed it and know many others will too!
“The sun will rise soon. You should be going. Remember, little thing, the decision may be yours, but the cosmos have already forged our fates.”
Nova is Smoke's most ruthless mercenary, found by Finnick who purchased her as an orphan and slave. Jace is Shadows King, said to bring death to any who cross his borders unsanctioned. When their paths cross over a rare dragon egg, their history is what they make it.
“Gods be good, this continent was forged from greedy houses and slimy bastards.”
The descriptions that are given of each of the kingdoms are some of my fave parts of this story. The details and quirks in each breathe further life into what is happening with the characters. Like the landscapes themselves are their own characters. Thr characters also all have perfect fitting quirks. Right off I love Roe! She's got all the qualities you love in story; sass, anger, and deadly. Then there's Isra who you just gotta love.
Speaking of love, the tension and banter between the main characters is off the chart. But it takes a good portion of the book for them to act on anything. I do love me a long slow burn with sass! And gods, there's a scene where he draws her a bath, washes and brushes her hair. Makes me melt every time.
“You get to choose who you are. Not those that made you. It takes time, and the cycle is incredibly difficult to break, but you decide when to break it. You decide who you’ll be when the sun rises."
Scars are a major theme in this book. Scars on people, scars on land, scars in histories. Each character and landscape bares their own. Trying to heal those scars is what this tale is about. The relationships built as the story progresses are what aids in that healing. Each plays an integral role.
I want to thank the author and publisher for allowing me to be an early part of this book's journey. I really enjoyed it and know many others will too!
September 9, 2026
Review of an Advanced Reader Copy provided by the author ✨
First of all, I would like to say thank you to the wonderful author so much for providing me with an eARC! This book was amazing and I really had a blast reading it ❤️
From the beginning of the story, I found myself invested and eager for more. The story started out slower which I didn’t mind at all, but gradually picked up the pace. The worldbuilding was done well, it wasn’t hard to understand and I had no difficulties navigating through every piece of information which is always important for me! The writing style was enjoyable, the premise of the story interesting. I was a little worried that the story might go downhill (because sometimes that’s sadly common in romantasies), but it only kept getting better! I was hooked from the start all the way to the end, honestly there wasn’t any part of the book where I told myself I’m getting bored 🙈
The characters were written really well. Our FMC Nova had a troubled past which the author wrote out really well. I love when characters have depth and they’re complex. She was morally gray one moment, then super understandable the next moment. I really enjoyed her as an FMC, I think the only thing I disliked about her a little was the fact that she had sexual thoughts about Jace right away even when it was in a bad situation where she could have easily died. I get that he was attractive, but I wasn’t too keen on this. Still, I really liked her and I liked where the story brought her even towards the end!
As for the MMC Jace, I do like a morally gray complex character even when it comes to men and I think he was written well too. His bond with Tenebris, his dark side, his eagerness to protect his kingdom. Him and Nova felt like two sides of the same coin to me and I liked that. Their romance and connection was great, I feel like they actually made a lot of sense together and I was rooting for them! 💋
Some of the plot twists I saw coming, but some surprised me. Overall, this book was well written, everything was well balanced and the ending was absolutely awesome!
I would 100% recommend this book, especially if you love found family, dragons, political intrigue and a sweet amount of sexual tension ✨
September 21, 2026
This book was SO GOOD!!
I was pulled in from the beginning and did not want to put it down!
The chemistry between Nova & Jace is dripping off the page, I could feel it and kept internally screaming JUST KISS EACHOTHER!!
I will definitely be continuing this series!!
I was pulled in from the beginning and did not want to put it down!
The chemistry between Nova & Jace is dripping off the page, I could feel it and kept internally screaming JUST KISS EACHOTHER!!
I will definitely be continuing this series!!
September 3, 2026
thank you DL Houpt for the eARC!
i was SO excited to read this based on the premise with dragons and elemental magic, but it ended up being both a hit and a miss for me. i was very intrigued by the set up of the world/politics of the factions and the tension of the romance had me in a literal chokehold (especially for the middle 1/3 of the book holy moly), but i just wasn't vibing with the writing style and the twists were too obvious imo. definitely an entertaining read, i was just hoping for more complexity plot-wise!
i was SO excited to read this based on the premise with dragons and elemental magic, but it ended up being both a hit and a miss for me. i was very intrigued by the set up of the world/politics of the factions and the tension of the romance had me in a literal chokehold (especially for the middle 1/3 of the book holy moly), but i just wasn't vibing with the writing style and the twists were too obvious imo. definitely an entertaining read, i was just hoping for more complexity plot-wise!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 2🌶️🌶️
Ashen Wings kept my dark soul FED! It gives lost queen vibes, but super dark. If you're in the mood for an ass kicking mercenary FMC on a hunt for lost egg who reluctantly allies with a Shadow King then pick this book up.
After losing her family at a young age, Nova is bought as a slave and to pay off the debt works by unaliving people. She gets sent on a mission to retrieve a lost egg and runs into Jace, the Shadow King, whom everyone fears due to his reputation. He propositions her with a deal: help him find the lost guardian of the egg and he'll pay off her debt. But there's a catch - if she doesn't help the territories face further peril from unknown creatures.
The magic system is unique in the sense that I haven't read it in any other romantasy books ( so far ). The chemistry between the MC's was intense, there were moments where I was shouting at my kindle for them to kiss, seriously it drove me crazy. The ending was predictable, BUT I still enjoyed reading it.
Overall I would recommend the book and I'll for sure continue on to the next book.
Thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Tropes
-Shadow MMC x Mercenary FMC
-Chosen one
-Slow burn
-Zuko x Katara vibes
Ashen Wings kept my dark soul FED! It gives lost queen vibes, but super dark. If you're in the mood for an ass kicking mercenary FMC on a hunt for lost egg who reluctantly allies with a Shadow King then pick this book up.
After losing her family at a young age, Nova is bought as a slave and to pay off the debt works by unaliving people. She gets sent on a mission to retrieve a lost egg and runs into Jace, the Shadow King, whom everyone fears due to his reputation. He propositions her with a deal: help him find the lost guardian of the egg and he'll pay off her debt. But there's a catch - if she doesn't help the territories face further peril from unknown creatures.
The magic system is unique in the sense that I haven't read it in any other romantasy books ( so far ). The chemistry between the MC's was intense, there were moments where I was shouting at my kindle for them to kiss, seriously it drove me crazy. The ending was predictable, BUT I still enjoyed reading it.
Overall I would recommend the book and I'll for sure continue on to the next book.
Thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Tropes
-Shadow MMC x Mercenary FMC
-Chosen one
-Slow burn
-Zuko x Katara vibes
September 23, 2026
They’ll publish just about anything nowadays huh
Did Not Finish
August 17, 2026I’m sorry to say this was a DNF for me.
Right off the bat, I had a hard time connecting with the story. I thought it was just my reading mood, so I paused it and came back when I genuinely wanted to try again. And yet again, it became very obvious to me very quickly that I wasn’t meshing with the story.
It’s a super easy read, so it isn’t that. The characters are cool, especially the fmc who is the definition of becoming someone she isn’t to survive, so it isn’t that. I’m intrigued by the plot, so it isn’t that. I genuinely just think it’s the writing itself.
I kept feeling like I was missing something. I felt like there was some sort of detail or idea missing that I really needed that just simply didn’t exist. Characters would be mentioned and I’d be like who? We’d go places and I would be so confused how we got there. I felt like I was reading someone’s jumbled story where they couldn’t remember half the details so they just skipped things.
I felt like I was being excluded from some elaborate plan where I only knew a small fraction of the details. I understand not wanting to bog us down in the little details, but more were definitely needed at times to understand what was going on.
Before ultimately DNFing, I looked through other reviews to see if anyone had a similar experience and found they overcame it, but I found readers having the complete opposite experience.
I’m not entirely sure what went wrong here for me, but it just didn’t work.
Thank you very much to Dr. Emily Reads for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Right off the bat, I had a hard time connecting with the story. I thought it was just my reading mood, so I paused it and came back when I genuinely wanted to try again. And yet again, it became very obvious to me very quickly that I wasn’t meshing with the story.
It’s a super easy read, so it isn’t that. The characters are cool, especially the fmc who is the definition of becoming someone she isn’t to survive, so it isn’t that. I’m intrigued by the plot, so it isn’t that. I genuinely just think it’s the writing itself.
I kept feeling like I was missing something. I felt like there was some sort of detail or idea missing that I really needed that just simply didn’t exist. Characters would be mentioned and I’d be like who? We’d go places and I would be so confused how we got there. I felt like I was reading someone’s jumbled story where they couldn’t remember half the details so they just skipped things.
I felt like I was being excluded from some elaborate plan where I only knew a small fraction of the details. I understand not wanting to bog us down in the little details, but more were definitely needed at times to understand what was going on.
Before ultimately DNFing, I looked through other reviews to see if anyone had a similar experience and found they overcame it, but I found readers having the complete opposite experience.
I’m not entirely sure what went wrong here for me, but it just didn’t work.
Thank you very much to Dr. Emily Reads for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2026
This is a honest review.
Well, at the start of the story I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did, but I'm glad I was wrong!
Ashen Wings is an excellent debut and I had a blast reading it. Fun fact: due to some schedule interferences, I ended up devouring the whole book today lol.
The lore and the worldbuilding are an interesting point for me here, because while they're not up front, they sure have a heavy roll for the plot, and they shine in between the development of the romance and the plot itself. We learn about it in conversation, in small mentions in Nova's inner monologue, and I think they were well spread, because I'm very intrigued about the past of this world and what else will we see in the next book.
The plot does have some known vibes of the Big Romantasies, but it soon became its own story, and beieve me, while I knew what was going to happen in some plot points, it was not a bad "I knew it", but true joy for how the story was advancing.
It took a little while to get used to the single first pov, but Nova (and her voice) grew on me. Nova as a protagonist is such an endearing character in that I was quite judging of her, and I threw my phone to my bed in more than one occasion because I thought she was being stupid or I had to be on Jace's side, but at the same time I felt a lot with her, and I was rooting for her. I love her complexity, her self-doubt, the inner conflict between knowing the truth and refusing to see it.
Jace and the rest were also endearing in their own ways. I usually am hesitant about male interests in Romantasies (I blame the infamous Rhysand and his look-alikes), but I'm a shipper, and Jace is charismatic. I fully support them (please, don't let my fears for them in the next book become real, my heart wouldn't resist it!). Plus, his friends are fantastic, I have hopes for the next part.
Plus, I adore, adore, adore what the author did with the main dragon here! Tenebris is one of my favorite dragons now. Give me more dragons like him, please!
All in all, I'm happy with this book.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity!
Well, at the start of the story I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did, but I'm glad I was wrong!
Ashen Wings is an excellent debut and I had a blast reading it. Fun fact: due to some schedule interferences, I ended up devouring the whole book today lol.
The lore and the worldbuilding are an interesting point for me here, because while they're not up front, they sure have a heavy roll for the plot, and they shine in between the development of the romance and the plot itself. We learn about it in conversation, in small mentions in Nova's inner monologue, and I think they were well spread, because I'm very intrigued about the past of this world and what else will we see in the next book.
The plot does have some known vibes of the Big Romantasies, but it soon became its own story, and beieve me, while I knew what was going to happen in some plot points, it was not a bad "I knew it", but true joy for how the story was advancing.
It took a little while to get used to the single first pov, but Nova (and her voice) grew on me. Nova as a protagonist is such an endearing character in that I was quite judging of her, and I threw my phone to my bed in more than one occasion because I thought she was being stupid or I had to be on Jace's side, but at the same time I felt a lot with her, and I was rooting for her. I love her complexity, her self-doubt, the inner conflict between knowing the truth and refusing to see it.
Jace and the rest were also endearing in their own ways. I usually am hesitant about male interests in Romantasies (I blame the infamous Rhysand and his look-alikes), but I'm a shipper, and Jace is charismatic. I fully support them (please, don't let my fears for them in the next book become real, my heart wouldn't resist it!). Plus, his friends are fantastic, I have hopes for the next part.
Plus, I adore, adore, adore what the author did with the main dragon here! Tenebris is one of my favorite dragons now. Give me more dragons like him, please!
All in all, I'm happy with this book.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity!
September 20, 2026
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving my honest, voluntary review.
What a fun new world of dragons! Nova is a girl who was sold into mercenary service as a young child and has been surviving ever since. She does not know anything about her family or history, but is doing everything she can to try to complete job after job so she can buy her freedom. Her world is split into factions, each ruled by a royal family and their bonded dragons. She is sent across a dangerous border on a job to track the smuggling of a precious dragon egg. In her quest, she unceremoniously encounters Jace, the King of the land and ends up a prisoner of sorts, while he decides her fate.
This story was so engaging from the very start. Nova is a character you want to root for even though she is morally gray to the max. Her first scene entails her slaughtering over a dozen men and you still cheer for her. Her life circumstance has been abysmal and she has done what she has to in order to survive. That doesn't make it right but it's understandable and in the brutal world she lives, it's at least nice to see a girl keeping the upper hand in combat situations.
Jace, Roe and Isra form such a perfect little chosen family and the way Nova blends with them is so endearing. She's never really had anyone care of her or have her back like this group does and it's nice to see her let her guard down and lean on them for support. The incredible tension that develops between Isra and Nova and Jace is just my favorite. Not a love triangle perse, but kind of leaning that way. Honestly, I was kind of hoping we'd get a why choose moment from them... that would have been insane.
I love where this series is going. I enjoyed how the ending gave a good tipping point for the next book and cant wait to see what happens next.
What a fun new world of dragons! Nova is a girl who was sold into mercenary service as a young child and has been surviving ever since. She does not know anything about her family or history, but is doing everything she can to try to complete job after job so she can buy her freedom. Her world is split into factions, each ruled by a royal family and their bonded dragons. She is sent across a dangerous border on a job to track the smuggling of a precious dragon egg. In her quest, she unceremoniously encounters Jace, the King of the land and ends up a prisoner of sorts, while he decides her fate.
This story was so engaging from the very start. Nova is a character you want to root for even though she is morally gray to the max. Her first scene entails her slaughtering over a dozen men and you still cheer for her. Her life circumstance has been abysmal and she has done what she has to in order to survive. That doesn't make it right but it's understandable and in the brutal world she lives, it's at least nice to see a girl keeping the upper hand in combat situations.
Jace, Roe and Isra form such a perfect little chosen family and the way Nova blends with them is so endearing. She's never really had anyone care of her or have her back like this group does and it's nice to see her let her guard down and lean on them for support. The incredible tension that develops between Isra and Nova and Jace is just my favorite. Not a love triangle perse, but kind of leaning that way. Honestly, I was kind of hoping we'd get a why choose moment from them... that would have been insane.
I love where this series is going. I enjoyed how the ending gave a good tipping point for the next book and cant wait to see what happens next.
September 19, 2026
I always love a good Romantasy with dragons and an epic quest to save the world, and this one didn't disappoint!
Nova is a total badass, and her journey to discovering her history throughout the book was quite the ride. And Jace is your typical, hot shadow daddy with amazing banter who oozes sexuality. The tension and dynamics between them were *chefs kiss* and everything I want in our FMC/MMC. Though the standout to me was Isra - I do love a good side character, especially the hot and witty warrior loyal to his people! And the ending had me REELING! What a great way to end the first book in a series!
I will admit, it took me a while to get into the world and the plot, and things seemed to happen very fast, but once I got into it I really enjoyed it! For me, some reveals were a little glossed over and didn't have the impact they could have, and some plot points moved very quickly. But I think there was great character development, an intriguing story, and a good start to what I think will be a great series!
But overall, this was a solid read and I will definitely be continuing the series!!
Nova is a total badass, and her journey to discovering her history throughout the book was quite the ride. And Jace is your typical, hot shadow daddy with amazing banter who oozes sexuality. The tension and dynamics between them were *chefs kiss* and everything I want in our FMC/MMC. Though the standout to me was Isra - I do love a good side character, especially the hot and witty warrior loyal to his people! And the ending had me REELING! What a great way to end the first book in a series!
I will admit, it took me a while to get into the world and the plot, and things seemed to happen very fast, but once I got into it I really enjoyed it! For me, some reveals were a little glossed over and didn't have the impact they could have, and some plot points moved very quickly. But I think there was great character development, an intriguing story, and a good start to what I think will be a great series!
But overall, this was a solid read and I will definitely be continuing the series!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2026
A huge thank you to the author for the amazing arc opportunity 🫶🏻
Ashen Wings is OUT 🖤
Ashen Wings was one of my most anticipated book and it didn’t disappoint! It captivated me from the first to the last word ✨🤌🏻
The writing, worldbuilding, the atmospheric setting, the plot and the characters completely won me over 🔥
Even though I could see where the plot was mainly going, I enjoyed every single step of the journey Nova went on. I still got delightedly surprised by many elements, still raged for her, and felt her despair 🖤
Nova, our FMC, is a badass haunted by a tragic past and fueled by rage. She’s street smart, resourceful and lethal, but also feisty, caring and quite lonely 🗡️
Jace, our MMC, is a man with a plan. He’s devilish, mysterious and brutal, but also dedicated, determined and loyal 🌚
Their chemistry was combustible and they are just build from the same materials. His darkness matches her own in every way 🎇
Isra and Roe, the two main side characters, were as interesting and complex as the MCs. I can’t wait to see more of them and maybe discover snippets of their story in the next book 👀
Ashen Wings is OUT 🖤
Ashen Wings was one of my most anticipated book and it didn’t disappoint! It captivated me from the first to the last word ✨🤌🏻
The writing, worldbuilding, the atmospheric setting, the plot and the characters completely won me over 🔥
Even though I could see where the plot was mainly going, I enjoyed every single step of the journey Nova went on. I still got delightedly surprised by many elements, still raged for her, and felt her despair 🖤
Nova, our FMC, is a badass haunted by a tragic past and fueled by rage. She’s street smart, resourceful and lethal, but also feisty, caring and quite lonely 🗡️
Jace, our MMC, is a man with a plan. He’s devilish, mysterious and brutal, but also dedicated, determined and loyal 🌚
Their chemistry was combustible and they are just build from the same materials. His darkness matches her own in every way 🎇
Isra and Roe, the two main side characters, were as interesting and complex as the MCs. I can’t wait to see more of them and maybe discover snippets of their story in the next book 👀
September 20, 2026
Ummm let me start by saying there is one particular spicy scene in here that had me feral and that alone was worth the read. 🥵🔥
Loved this book. The writing is so descriptive, the world building was amazing, and the characters were all written to perfection.
The main setting for this world is dark, gloomy, and creepy but you do travel to other different areas and they are all completely unique from each other.
I really enjoyed the FMC Nova’s character. She is brave, determined, and my favorite thing about her…she encourages our MMC, Jace, to be himself around her, even if it might get her killed. I also thought she had great growth throughout the book. The MMC Jace, I LOVE him. He is funny, mysterious, brutal, and oozes sex appeal. When it comes to Nova, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her. I love the two of them together. ❤️
In this story you will find dragons that can shift, grotesque creatures called Lurkers, friendship, dark themes, a beautiful love story, and a few really good plot twists.
I can’t wait for book two!
Loved this book. The writing is so descriptive, the world building was amazing, and the characters were all written to perfection.
The main setting for this world is dark, gloomy, and creepy but you do travel to other different areas and they are all completely unique from each other.
I really enjoyed the FMC Nova’s character. She is brave, determined, and my favorite thing about her…she encourages our MMC, Jace, to be himself around her, even if it might get her killed. I also thought she had great growth throughout the book. The MMC Jace, I LOVE him. He is funny, mysterious, brutal, and oozes sex appeal. When it comes to Nova, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her. I love the two of them together. ❤️
In this story you will find dragons that can shift, grotesque creatures called Lurkers, friendship, dark themes, a beautiful love story, and a few really good plot twists.
I can’t wait for book two!
September 12, 2026
Ashen Wings takes place in a dark fantasy world that revolves around different factions which I would liken to ethnic groups within the larger world. There are also dragons which bond with a select few. Our fmc is Nova, a refugee turned slave turned assassin who’s just trying to survive and pay off her debt. A mission goes awry and she is thrust into the hands of an enemy-ish group led by Jace, the king of another faction. While it’s a good adventure with fun fantasy elements and tense moments, I didn’t feel like I got to know the mcs or their world very deeply, and it was a bit of a romantic fantasy trope checklist rather than a fully developed story. Because of that, the plot twists were broadcast from a mile away and it took some of the excitement out of reading. I’d give it about 2.5-3 stars. A good read, but didn’t stand out from other similar books in the genre. I appreciate the opportunity to read this as an ARC and wish the author success!
Review of advance copy received from Author
When I read the description for this ARC and saw spicy slow burn + enemies to lovers + dark romantasy + vampire vibes + dragons + Zuko and Katara energy + Sleep Token inspired vibes… I signed up so fast.
This was speaking several of my love languages, and thankfully, I was NOT disappointed!
Houpt dropped me straight into an immersive world filled with fantasy, darkness, dragons, deadly factions, and enough Eldritch horror to keep me thoroughly hooked. I could predict a few things along the way, but honestly? The writing was so vivid and atmospheric that I simply did not care.
I was too busy turning pages like my life depended on it.
Nova and Jace are both broken in their own ways, and watching them slowly gravitate toward each other just made sense. There was something really compelling about two people carrying so much darkness still finding little pieces of hope in each other.
And the found family? Yessss!!! Give me the siblings who bicker relentlessly but would absolutely go to battle for one another and I am sat! It felt natural, organic, and beautifully woven into the story.
I loved the pacing, the flow, the atmosphere, and the way the darkness was balanced with those little glimmers of hope.
I also detested the villains immensely, which I consider a compliment since I had developed several personal grudges by the end.
And then we get to that ending…
I NEED MORE!!
Book two is already looking like it could be an absolute disaster for my emotional stability, and naturally, I will be there.
This was speaking several of my love languages, and thankfully, I was NOT disappointed!
Houpt dropped me straight into an immersive world filled with fantasy, darkness, dragons, deadly factions, and enough Eldritch horror to keep me thoroughly hooked. I could predict a few things along the way, but honestly? The writing was so vivid and atmospheric that I simply did not care.
I was too busy turning pages like my life depended on it.
Nova and Jace are both broken in their own ways, and watching them slowly gravitate toward each other just made sense. There was something really compelling about two people carrying so much darkness still finding little pieces of hope in each other.
And the found family? Yessss!!! Give me the siblings who bicker relentlessly but would absolutely go to battle for one another and I am sat! It felt natural, organic, and beautifully woven into the story.
I loved the pacing, the flow, the atmosphere, and the way the darkness was balanced with those little glimmers of hope.
I also detested the villains immensely, which I consider a compliment since I had developed several personal grudges by the end.
And then we get to that ending…
I NEED MORE!!
Book two is already looking like it could be an absolute disaster for my emotional stability, and naturally, I will be there.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🌶🌶 / ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ashen Wings was an absolute fun time! This story broke my heart, made me giggle & kick my feet, swoon, hold my breath, and gave me full body tingles. The spice 🥵🥵🥵. And those sexy claws....oh my holy word!! The FMC definitely had a lot of trauma, so to see her growth by the end of the book was awesome, but I am waiting for a full circle moment for her. Learning to trust others, and yourself, is never an easy feat, so I know she needs time and more development. Jace. Holy shit, Jace & that mouth. The sarcastic wit, deadly nature, and dirty, dirty mouth. If I can't have THAT (and the delicious claws), I don't want it at all. I loved the side characters, even though Roe is still growing on me. Isra was absolutely phenomenal and added great tension and humor to the mix. I loved Tenebris and hope to see more of him and his family, and I loved that we got to see a "different side" (IYKYK) to the dragon/rider relationship. Very unique. I do hope for more details on Jace's past and how his whole being and shiftyness began/started/etc., so having some background questions kept this from being a 5 star, but I think we will learn more as we gon Overall, the plot was good, and I am definitely sticking around.
Ashen Wings was an absolute fun time! This story broke my heart, made me giggle & kick my feet, swoon, hold my breath, and gave me full body tingles. The spice 🥵🥵🥵. And those sexy claws....oh my holy word!! The FMC definitely had a lot of trauma, so to see her growth by the end of the book was awesome, but I am waiting for a full circle moment for her. Learning to trust others, and yourself, is never an easy feat, so I know she needs time and more development. Jace. Holy shit, Jace & that mouth. The sarcastic wit, deadly nature, and dirty, dirty mouth. If I can't have THAT (and the delicious claws), I don't want it at all. I loved the side characters, even though Roe is still growing on me. Isra was absolutely phenomenal and added great tension and humor to the mix. I loved Tenebris and hope to see more of him and his family, and I loved that we got to see a "different side" (IYKYK) to the dragon/rider relationship. Very unique. I do hope for more details on Jace's past and how his whole being and shiftyness began/started/etc., so having some background questions kept this from being a 5 star, but I think we will learn more as we gon Overall, the plot was good, and I am definitely sticking around.
September 17, 2026
Thank you to D.L. and @dremilyreads for entrusting me with an early egalley!
Ashen Wings by D.L. Houpt
Dragon riders
Found family
All the tension
Slow burn
Elemental magic
Upper 20s FMC
Consent king
Begrudging alliance
Oh this book had me sucked in and didn't let me go! I really enjoyed the found family and Nova very slowly thawing toward them. Nova had such a tragic story and I was definitely cheering her on! Nova and Jace have such combustible chemistry and had me kicking my feet multiple times! The ending definitely has me wanting to know what comes next and I'm excited for book 2!
Ashen Wings by D.L. Houpt
Dragon riders
Found family
All the tension
Slow burn
Elemental magic
Upper 20s FMC
Consent king
Begrudging alliance
Oh this book had me sucked in and didn't let me go! I really enjoyed the found family and Nova very slowly thawing toward them. Nova had such a tragic story and I was definitely cheering her on! Nova and Jace have such combustible chemistry and had me kicking my feet multiple times! The ending definitely has me wanting to know what comes next and I'm excited for book 2!
September 10, 2026
Thank you to the author for the advance readers copy
Can I just say I love strong FMC and Nova did not disappoint! The world building and magic system was well written that I wanted to be part of it. The secrets in this book and surrounding Nova will make you not want to put book down! I understand the anger and frustration coming from Nova and wanting to do anything to get her freedom, freedom that was taken from her when she was 6. Now our MMC Jace, whoa!!! And the bond he has with his dragon!!!!
September 15, 2026
This was a really solid dark fantasy read. The world-building is super immersive and gritty, and Nova is exactly the kind of sharp, independent main character I love following. Her dynamic with the blood-bound king had me hooked, and the magic system felt fresh and unique. It pacing drags just a tiny bit in the middle, and I wished a few of the side characters got a little more screen time, but that ending totally delivered.
September 17, 2026
You need a hair dye you can trust! This is essential lol. This story was so good. Checked off every box that I need checked. This was intense and chaotic. I loved the world building and the characters. And that heat! It was spicy. I absolutely devoured this one. I honestly didn’t expect the depth that this brought. But this story brought it and then some. I’m impressed. I’m in heaven. This was good.
September 28, 2026
✨I received this as an arc, but I hardly had time to read lately, life has been INSANE✨
Anyway- this is the first book I’ve read by D.L. Houpt and I’m SO glad I signed up for the arc!! I was very interested in this book when I first heard about it, and it didn’t disappoint. I love Nova’s relationships with both Jace and Isra. I’m also so proud of her for finally realizing/accepting who she is. I can’t wait to see what happens next! Thank you for this opportunity!!
Anyway- this is the first book I’ve read by D.L. Houpt and I’m SO glad I signed up for the arc!! I was very interested in this book when I first heard about it, and it didn’t disappoint. I love Nova’s relationships with both Jace and Isra. I’m also so proud of her for finally realizing/accepting who she is. I can’t wait to see what happens next! Thank you for this opportunity!!
August 24, 2026
The book absolutely rocked my world from start to finish! I loved that Nova is a badass and refused to take any shit. Jace is delicious, mysterious, and most importantly unhinged in the best way. There are so many things this world has hiding and uncovering each part is such an experience. I loved the mötley crew of a found family. Dragons, training, secrets upon secrets, and sexual tension and banter you could cut with a knife? Yes, please!
September 11, 2026
Nova Lindwen
Orphan
Slave bought by Finnick to become an mercenary trained to kill
Never had a purpose till she comes across a certain Prince with a mission to find the guardian who can bond to a first guardian dragon that has been seen in awhile.
What she doesn't know is the truths she will have to go through, ultimate betrayal and the banter and drawn she will have to a certain Prince.
Will she ever be free of Finnick's grasp?
Will the guardian be found?
Will the dragon egg hatch?
Well you will just have to read to find out :)
Orphan
Slave bought by Finnick to become an mercenary trained to kill
Never had a purpose till she comes across a certain Prince with a mission to find the guardian who can bond to a first guardian dragon that has been seen in awhile.
What she doesn't know is the truths she will have to go through, ultimate betrayal and the banter and drawn she will have to a certain Prince.
Will she ever be free of Finnick's grasp?
Will the guardian be found?
Will the dragon egg hatch?
Well you will just have to read to find out :)
September 15, 2026
Oh my goodness D.L. have you written a masterpiece. The story, the world building, the found family and comraderier, all of it is absolutely stunning. I loved the stubbornness of the FMC and the obsession of the MMC. Absolutely amazing.
September 16, 2026
I fear this book was not for me. It started out great, but then the tropes started troping and they didn’t stop troping. The ending was far too convenient for suspension of disbelief and the decision made by Nova to "send a message" after all the bloodshed made absolutely no sense. I tried really hard to be invested in the story but it unfortunately didn't work for me.
September 17, 2026
Why does it have to end like that??? This is a perfect book for fans of ACOTAR and Fourth Wing! The yearning is Xaden level with mixed in Rhysand and the Night Court!! I HIGHLY RECONNEND THIS BOOK!
August 18, 2026
Ashen Wings is a romantasy filled with dragons, freedom, and the struggle of staying true to yourself. We follow Nova, a mercenary, as she takes on a dangerous, high-risk job in hopes of buying out her contract and securing her freedom. But nothing is as it seems, and she soon finds herself tangled in something much bigger than she ever expected.
This was one of the easiest reads I've had in a while. I was hooked from the very beginning. The world is layered with secrets, and uncovering each one felt like an adventure of its own. I love a good found family story, and this book delivered. Add in dragons, hidden agendas, and enough tension and banter to cut with a knife, and I was completely invested.
Read if you love:
⚔️ Adventure
🐉 Dragons
💎 Runes & magic
🖤 Morally gray MMC
☠️ Touch Her & Die
👨👩👧👦 Found family
💕 Forced proximity
If that sounds like your kind of book, you'll definitely want to add Ashen Wings to your TBR.
Thank you, D.L. Houpt, for the opportunity to read this ARC! 🖤
This was one of the easiest reads I've had in a while. I was hooked from the very beginning. The world is layered with secrets, and uncovering each one felt like an adventure of its own. I love a good found family story, and this book delivered. Add in dragons, hidden agendas, and enough tension and banter to cut with a knife, and I was completely invested.
Read if you love:
⚔️ Adventure
🐉 Dragons
💎 Runes & magic
🖤 Morally gray MMC
☠️ Touch Her & Die
👨👩👧👦 Found family
💕 Forced proximity
If that sounds like your kind of book, you'll definitely want to add Ashen Wings to your TBR.
Thank you, D.L. Houpt, for the opportunity to read this ARC! 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ashen Wings by D.L. Houpt [ARC REVIEW]
★★★★★
5/5 stars
Release date: September 15th, 2026
Horror and romance, angst and adventure, dragons and monsters: perfection.
------------------------------------------------
READ THIS BOOK IF:
→ You wished there were more dragons in A:TLA
and
→ You like it when EVERYONE is morally grey and knows what they want
and
→ You want some horror and angst in your high-energy romantasy adventure
------------------------------------------------
≪ He thinks he’s already won, but there’s something he hasn’t considered—I’m greedier and most certainly more selfish than he is. ≫
------------------------------------------------
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Cohesive and accessible worldbuilding | Compelling characters | Found family dynamics | The atmosphere •
Step into the past with me. Back to fall/winter of last year. November/December 2025; 8 full months ago at least. You with me? Good. Imagine reading a scene—a snippet, really, not even a full page—that grabbed your attention so thoroughly and completely that you’ve been thinking about it ever since. You thought about it when you added it to your “Want to Read” shelf on Goodreads. You thought about it between other ARCs and other reads. You thought about it every time you thought about Avatar: The Last Airbender (which is a common occurrence). You thought about it every time you cried over the same author’s other works. You thought about it randomly, without any discernable trigger.
Now imagine that you received the ARC for this book. Imagine reaching chapter 30, having your heart broken, and finally—finally!—reading those same words again. That scene, that snippet, the lines that started it all: ≪ “How many of these fuckers can you kill, Nova?” ≫
If you can imagine all of that, then you understand my experience with Ashen Wings. I have been waiting. I have been wanting. I have been PATIENT, and working very hard to keep my excessive neediness to myself throughout months of yearning.
I don’t have to hold back anymore. I am become hype, destroyer of standards.
And Ashen Wings doesn’t just meet 8+ months of my constant, internal hype: it exceeds it. I thought I was signing up for a banter-filled fantasy romp with A:TLA vibes and a near-obnoxiously confident, sexy MMC. I didn’t realize that I was in for intricate-yet-accessible worldbuilding, a cast of highly loveable side characters, extremely deep and nuanced character psychology, and eldritch horrors beyond my comprehension (though I should have expected that last one, given who the author is).
Houpt has built a high-concept world with a really low barrier to entry, wrapping complex ideas into simple terminology and beat-perfect pacing. There is no glossary or map, but I was never lost or confused about how the world worked or where we were. Every bit of worldbuilding information imparted to us is delivered at precisely the right moment, with exactly enough detail and focus to make the world and factions slip into me without question. This is NOT a simple world—there are complex political dynamics, a bloody history, vast cultural differences between the factions, a pantheon that has an active impact on the world, magic that somehow fits seamlessly into Nova’s grungy reality—but Houpt delivers it in such a way that it FEELS easy. I am truly, TRULY impressed with the world and its delivery.
Nova Lindwen is the kind of badass FMC that sticks with you. She is competent, violent, driven, and focused: she knows what she wants and she knows what she’s willing to do to get it. She isn’t secretly soft or internally sweet, but she IS hungry, painfully self-aware (or so she thinks), and utterly broken. Throughout the course of the story, we see more and more of what’s going on inside her… and it isn’t pretty. She has repressed herself so much—≪ Lock it up, Nova ≫—that she’s crushed herself into dust and sharp splinters of what a person is supposed to be. What fascinates me most about Nova is how she is a wildly self-assured woman who is constantly put into situations where her autonomy is undermined. It makes for a really interesting contrast, to watch this woman with real needs, desires, and vices be thrown from side to side and just… lock it up. Power through. Deal with it. All the while never abandoning her own goals and needs. She calls herself “selfish”—I call her a queen. We support women’s rights AND wrongs in this house.
Jace, meanwhile, is extremely entertaining. He is cocky and confident and flirty, but also determined and haunted and equally driven. The difference between his persona and his reality are stark, and he bears the weight of his reputation and his father’s sins by repressing, containing, and redirecting his focus to the myriad of problems that he has decided that he alone must solve. Jace deserves a BREAK, but for some reason I don’t think that’s gonna be coming any time soon.
The found family dynamics amongst Jace’s inner circle are delightful, again hitting hard upon the A:TLA homage with Isra’s well-meaning himbo energy and Roe’s aggressive vitriol which hides a deep, abiding sense of loyalty and trust. These three people will go to war for one another without question, and I really appreciate that Nova wasn’t instantly integrated as part of the family. Each duo has a unique dynamic, and it makes every relationship in this book feel real and lived in. None of the relationships are underdeveloped and they all make sense based on the individual characters and their unique histories.
Of course, it isn’t a D.L. Houpt book without some cosmic dread and eldritch horror, and Ashen Wings doesn’t disappoint in that respect either. The descriptions and atmosphere of Shadow and the lurkers are truly unsettling… and yet somehow, I could vividly imagine these odd, horrible (complimentary) things. Houpt’s ability to describe the indescribable is used to great effect here, leaving us riddled with foreboding and curiosity. It may kill the cat, but it THRILLS me.
Considering how many things go WRONG for our intrepid team, the plot itself is tight and steady. Each setback (and there are many) feels organic—not like an author trying to figure out how to make things go wrong, but like the natural and unintended consequences of the world and the actions used to move it. The pivots and shifts of focus are logical, the reactions are realistic, and the action develops alongside the relationships without either eclipsing the other. I was never bored and there was always a reason—usually a very compelling reason—to turn the page, regardless of the time of day or what else I was SUPPOSED to be doing.
I am so excited for what comes next in this world and with these characters. After all, Nova has finally found herself. How can I NOT stick around for that?
------------------------------------------------
≪ “But if you do run, Nova, I’ll find you. I’ll always find you.” ≫
------------------------------------------------
WISHLIST:
• Show, don’t tell (1st-person woes) •
To avoid spoilers, I will keep this EXTREMELY vague: there is a major revelation that we learn right at the end of the book that is delivered entirely through dialogue—because it doesn’t happen to Nova, so she has to be told about it rather than experiencing it herself. I desperately wish that WE, as the readers, got to experience the discovery of this revelation in the moment, either through Nova or through an inserted extra POV. Learning this massive detail through dialogue made it fall flat for me, personally.
------------------------------------------------
FAVOURITE…
• MAIN CHARACTER? → Nova. She’s lethal and broken and I want her to be happy.
• SIDE CHARACTER? → Isra. How can it not be? When do we get HIS book?
• CHAPTER? → Chapter 30. Angst, teamwork, and the first real sight of the monster.
• QUOTE? → ≪ He is my end and my beginning, my nightmare in the shadows, my creature of darkness and death reborn. I am unequivocably, unapologetically, wholeheartedly his. ≫
------------------------------------------------
*I received an Advance Review Copy of this book from the author
★★★★★
5/5 stars
Release date: September 15th, 2026
Horror and romance, angst and adventure, dragons and monsters: perfection.
------------------------------------------------
READ THIS BOOK IF:
→ You wished there were more dragons in A:TLA
and
→ You like it when EVERYONE is morally grey and knows what they want
and
→ You want some horror and angst in your high-energy romantasy adventure
------------------------------------------------
≪ He thinks he’s already won, but there’s something he hasn’t considered—I’m greedier and most certainly more selfish than he is. ≫
------------------------------------------------
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Cohesive and accessible worldbuilding | Compelling characters | Found family dynamics | The atmosphere •
Step into the past with me. Back to fall/winter of last year. November/December 2025; 8 full months ago at least. You with me? Good. Imagine reading a scene—a snippet, really, not even a full page—that grabbed your attention so thoroughly and completely that you’ve been thinking about it ever since. You thought about it when you added it to your “Want to Read” shelf on Goodreads. You thought about it between other ARCs and other reads. You thought about it every time you thought about Avatar: The Last Airbender (which is a common occurrence). You thought about it every time you cried over the same author’s other works. You thought about it randomly, without any discernable trigger.
Now imagine that you received the ARC for this book. Imagine reaching chapter 30, having your heart broken, and finally—finally!—reading those same words again. That scene, that snippet, the lines that started it all: ≪ “How many of these fuckers can you kill, Nova?” ≫
If you can imagine all of that, then you understand my experience with Ashen Wings. I have been waiting. I have been wanting. I have been PATIENT, and working very hard to keep my excessive neediness to myself throughout months of yearning.
I don’t have to hold back anymore. I am become hype, destroyer of standards.
And Ashen Wings doesn’t just meet 8+ months of my constant, internal hype: it exceeds it. I thought I was signing up for a banter-filled fantasy romp with A:TLA vibes and a near-obnoxiously confident, sexy MMC. I didn’t realize that I was in for intricate-yet-accessible worldbuilding, a cast of highly loveable side characters, extremely deep and nuanced character psychology, and eldritch horrors beyond my comprehension (though I should have expected that last one, given who the author is).
Houpt has built a high-concept world with a really low barrier to entry, wrapping complex ideas into simple terminology and beat-perfect pacing. There is no glossary or map, but I was never lost or confused about how the world worked or where we were. Every bit of worldbuilding information imparted to us is delivered at precisely the right moment, with exactly enough detail and focus to make the world and factions slip into me without question. This is NOT a simple world—there are complex political dynamics, a bloody history, vast cultural differences between the factions, a pantheon that has an active impact on the world, magic that somehow fits seamlessly into Nova’s grungy reality—but Houpt delivers it in such a way that it FEELS easy. I am truly, TRULY impressed with the world and its delivery.
Nova Lindwen is the kind of badass FMC that sticks with you. She is competent, violent, driven, and focused: she knows what she wants and she knows what she’s willing to do to get it. She isn’t secretly soft or internally sweet, but she IS hungry, painfully self-aware (or so she thinks), and utterly broken. Throughout the course of the story, we see more and more of what’s going on inside her… and it isn’t pretty. She has repressed herself so much—≪ Lock it up, Nova ≫—that she’s crushed herself into dust and sharp splinters of what a person is supposed to be. What fascinates me most about Nova is how she is a wildly self-assured woman who is constantly put into situations where her autonomy is undermined. It makes for a really interesting contrast, to watch this woman with real needs, desires, and vices be thrown from side to side and just… lock it up. Power through. Deal with it. All the while never abandoning her own goals and needs. She calls herself “selfish”—I call her a queen. We support women’s rights AND wrongs in this house.
Jace, meanwhile, is extremely entertaining. He is cocky and confident and flirty, but also determined and haunted and equally driven. The difference between his persona and his reality are stark, and he bears the weight of his reputation and his father’s sins by repressing, containing, and redirecting his focus to the myriad of problems that he has decided that he alone must solve. Jace deserves a BREAK, but for some reason I don’t think that’s gonna be coming any time soon.
The found family dynamics amongst Jace’s inner circle are delightful, again hitting hard upon the A:TLA homage with Isra’s well-meaning himbo energy and Roe’s aggressive vitriol which hides a deep, abiding sense of loyalty and trust. These three people will go to war for one another without question, and I really appreciate that Nova wasn’t instantly integrated as part of the family. Each duo has a unique dynamic, and it makes every relationship in this book feel real and lived in. None of the relationships are underdeveloped and they all make sense based on the individual characters and their unique histories.
Of course, it isn’t a D.L. Houpt book without some cosmic dread and eldritch horror, and Ashen Wings doesn’t disappoint in that respect either. The descriptions and atmosphere of Shadow and the lurkers are truly unsettling… and yet somehow, I could vividly imagine these odd, horrible (complimentary) things. Houpt’s ability to describe the indescribable is used to great effect here, leaving us riddled with foreboding and curiosity. It may kill the cat, but it THRILLS me.
Considering how many things go WRONG for our intrepid team, the plot itself is tight and steady. Each setback (and there are many) feels organic—not like an author trying to figure out how to make things go wrong, but like the natural and unintended consequences of the world and the actions used to move it. The pivots and shifts of focus are logical, the reactions are realistic, and the action develops alongside the relationships without either eclipsing the other. I was never bored and there was always a reason—usually a very compelling reason—to turn the page, regardless of the time of day or what else I was SUPPOSED to be doing.
I am so excited for what comes next in this world and with these characters. After all, Nova has finally found herself. How can I NOT stick around for that?
------------------------------------------------
≪ “But if you do run, Nova, I’ll find you. I’ll always find you.” ≫
------------------------------------------------
WISHLIST:
• Show, don’t tell (1st-person woes) •
To avoid spoilers, I will keep this EXTREMELY vague: there is a major revelation that we learn right at the end of the book that is delivered entirely through dialogue—because it doesn’t happen to Nova, so she has to be told about it rather than experiencing it herself. I desperately wish that WE, as the readers, got to experience the discovery of this revelation in the moment, either through Nova or through an inserted extra POV. Learning this massive detail through dialogue made it fall flat for me, personally.
------------------------------------------------
FAVOURITE…
• MAIN CHARACTER? → Nova. She’s lethal and broken and I want her to be happy.
• SIDE CHARACTER? → Isra. How can it not be? When do we get HIS book?
• CHAPTER? → Chapter 30. Angst, teamwork, and the first real sight of the monster.
• QUOTE? → ≪ He is my end and my beginning, my nightmare in the shadows, my creature of darkness and death reborn. I am unequivocably, unapologetically, wholeheartedly his. ≫
------------------------------------------------
*I received an Advance Review Copy of this book from the author
November 21, 2025
Y’all are not ready for this.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews