Behind Ash and Glass

by Ryllan Rose, Crystal Ringer (Editor)

354 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 3, 2026

About the author

Author. Chef. Keeper of entirely too many teas. Creator of Mor Aine, a dark fantasy world haunted by what was forgotten. Author of Behind Ash and Glass.

Reviews

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC Review*

- Spirits and the undead
- Ancient stories
- Slow-burn mysteries
- Forgotten/Hidden histories

Behind Ash and Glass is one of those stories that you feel like you need to read again. I mean this in the sense of when you get to the end of the book you start to wonder what small things you missed that brought you to the end of the story. Meda is an incredibly strong leader, but she can also be incredibly frustrating. I know she felt like she was doing the right thing to uncover the past that was hidden but being so hard headed.. is that what led to her ending up in the predicament she found herself?

There are some parts of the story where I felt like my brain wasn't creative enough for the fantasy world. The author does an incredible job with descriptions of locations and important details.

I can't wait to see where this story goes in the next book!

[V]

I was really looking forward to this book so I was excited to receive an ARC. I still fully believe that the story is amazing, however, I ended up having to DNF it.
The furthest I could push myself was to 43% and I then skipped to the end in hopes that that would motivate me to keep going, it did not. The writing style just isn't the right fit for me. I found it to be very lyrical and filled with frequent symbolic language, while I tend to prefer a more direct writing style. At times it felt like I was in a literature class trying to decipher a deeper meaning rather than just enjoying the story. As I said, the story seems amazing and I'd love to give this another try in the future. Perhaps my experience would be different if I knew what writing style to expect. For now, after spending almost a month trying to get through it, I felt more exhausted than excited to pick it up. Reading had started to feel like homework instead of something I was enjoying. I'd recommend people give this book a fair try because the concept is so interesting and truly reminds me of something we'd see in a movie.

[Amy Lucille · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Behind Ash and Glass is an ambitious dark fantasy that showcases just how much care and imagination Ryllan Rose poured into creating the world of Mor Aine. The lore is expansive, the cultures feel thoughtfully developed, and it’s clear that every piece of the world has a purpose within the larger story.

The story explores themes of grief, identity, corruption, and resilience through Queen Meda’s heartbreaking journey, while weaving in a rich mythology of gods, magic, and ancient history. Readers who enjoy immersive, lore-heavy fantasy with intricate world-building and layered political and spiritual systems will likely find plenty to sink their teeth into.

This is a story that rewards readers who love exploring every detail of a carefully crafted fantasy world (especially fans of D&D), and it’s evident that an incredible amount of passion and dedication went into bringing Mor Aine to life.

I received an advance copy of this book. This is my voluntary review and all opinions are my

[Natasha R Garries · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for advanced readers copy. I would recommend this book. It is a great fantasy book. The beginning confused me at first, but made so much sense at the end of the book. So don’t give up on the book it gets better and you’ll enjoy it. The character development throughout is amazing and the world is beautiful. The characters are have a ray of emotions, from funny, to protective, to friendly, to angry. The main character had to make some difficult decisions along the way, and her choices had some consequences. I enjoyed this book and can’t wait to continue the story.

[Natalia Ann Blakey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 rating
Spoiler Free review

Behind Ash and Glass was such an interesting read! I went into this one not knowing exactly what to expect, and I ended up really enjoying the journey. The story had a dark, atmospheric feel that immediately pulled me in, and I loved the way the author blended fantasy, emotion, and mystery together.

[Francesca Harmouzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character had some tough choices to face in this book. She had to decide what was best not only for her kingdom but for herself! This book was very immersive and was pulling me into her world page after page! It is full of secrets and twisty turns! You definitely gotta pay attention so you don’t miss crucial information!

[Smileyface · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a 4,5-4,75!!
Beautifully written

[Matthew Brakensiek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Behind Ash and Glass carefully treads the line between political intrigue and epic fantasy. The author beautifully explores the responsibility of leadership and the responsibility to one's own needs.

Meda's struggle with her personal interests and that of the many cultures of her world shows her versatility and fortitude as a strong character.

This book starts off strong and brutal and leaves you clinging to hope. Will reread, especially when the next book comes out.