What do you think?
Rate this book
Ember and Steel
The gods are gone. Magic is lost. Vengeance is nigh.
There is death in the north; entire settlements slaughtered in the night by unknown hands. But dead things do not rest. Mages and scholars from across Breitho search for answers, to no avail.
The church clings to a whispered prophecy to bring back the gods and end the horrors in the dark.
But none of them understands what is truly at stake.
In her tiny village, Sarah Brandt has her own problems. She has witnessed her friend’s murder and is now running for her life.
Her frantic escape takes her to a circle of Druid stones, where something ancient and powerful is waiting in the darkness. When she encounters the burning presence within the stones, Sarah’s world changes forever.
Now it isn’t just justice she seeks, but salvation.
Not for herself, but for all humankind.
There is death in the north; entire settlements slaughtered in the night by unknown hands. But dead things do not rest. Mages and scholars from across Breitho search for answers, to no avail.
The church clings to a whispered prophecy to bring back the gods and end the horrors in the dark.
But none of them understands what is truly at stake.
In her tiny village, Sarah Brandt has her own problems. She has witnessed her friend’s murder and is now running for her life.
Her frantic escape takes her to a circle of Druid stones, where something ancient and powerful is waiting in the darkness. When she encounters the burning presence within the stones, Sarah’s world changes forever.
Now it isn’t just justice she seeks, but salvation.
Not for herself, but for all humankind.
Audiobook
Published July 1, 2026
About the author
Donna Morgan
1 book19 followersJuggling a business, a family, and writing books. What could possibly go wrong?
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
August 9, 2026
At first glance, Ember & Steel by Donna Morgan seemed like one of those familiar fantasy tales I’ve read a hundred times before, but the further I got into it, the more Morgan’s particular spin on it started to feel surprisingly refreshing. This epic romantic horror fantasy genreblender is kinda giving Shield of Sparrows meets Daughter of No Worlds meets The Faithful and the Fallen vibes, which might sound like a lot but somehow it just works.
Now, all I had really heard before going into this was that it follows a neurodivergent FMC, but as soon as I met Sarah Brandt, I realised that was only one of the many things I was going to love about her. After being framed for the murder of her best friend, Sarah is forced to run for her life, only to stumble across a Druid circle where an ancient and powerful force is lurking in the shadows. Safe to say, her relatively quiet and obscure life is over, and soon she finds herself having to navigate all kinds of political, religious, and cosmic threats while her quest for vengeance morphs into a quest for salvation of all humankind. Like, no pressure, babe.
What I actually loved most, though, was how intimate this story felt despite the sheer scale of everything happening around Sarah. The first half of Ember and Steel almost has this slice-of-life quality to it once Sarah finds refuge at the duke’s castle in the forest, and I loved how the slower pacing gave us so much time to explore Sarah’s inner conflicts and the tentative relationships she builds along the way. I mean, I always enjoy close first person storytelling, but the audiobook experience made me love it even more here, because Diana Croft absolutely nails Sarah’s voice and brings the diverse cast of characters to life so effortlessly.
I do have to admit that some of the side characters in Ember and Steel paled a bit in comparison to how deeply we get to peek into Sarah’s complex mind, but I still absolutely loved the found family vibes and the healthy slow-burn romance at the core of the story. The trio of dashing heroes, Gwith, Caz, and Taran, really captured my heart, and I appreciated how their protectiveness towards Sarah never completely swallowed up her own agency because they recognised her own strength and power. I mean, seeing Sarah finally find her place with people who don't just tolerate her different way of thinking and acting but actually appreciate her for it and make her feel wanted was so heartwarming, and I loved following her journey of growth as she realised that she doesn’t need to change herself to be worthy of love, friendship, or belonging.
Yet despite all those intimate and almost cosy moments, Ember and Steel still manages to feel properly epic, dark, and occasionally downright disturbing, and I was so here for that balance. The way that Morgan brought this rich world with its dark lore, Celtic vibes, Druids, dire wolves, elves, and all kinds of fantastical creatures to life had me completely immersed, and I loved how there was this constant sense of anticipatory dread because of all the hints that there is something much bigger and much darker happening underneath everything Sarah was experiencing. Especially the mysterious secondary POV had me highly intrigued, and the way that Morgan tied it all to the main storyline with Sarah was so satisfying and exciting.
Honestly, all the different elements and aspects of the story just weave together so seamlessly, and I loved how Morgan slowly built up the tension and stakes on a romantic, political, emotional, and magical level as we reached the climax(es?). Even though I never got quite as emotionally invested as I wanted to be, I still absolutely inhaled this audiobook and I am beyond eager to see where things will go in the next instalment. I think Ember & Steel is one hell of a strong start to the Breitho Chronicles, and I’d highly recommend it if you’re looking for a diverse dark epic romantic fantasy that feels both comfortingly familiar and refreshingly unique.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.
Now, all I had really heard before going into this was that it follows a neurodivergent FMC, but as soon as I met Sarah Brandt, I realised that was only one of the many things I was going to love about her. After being framed for the murder of her best friend, Sarah is forced to run for her life, only to stumble across a Druid circle where an ancient and powerful force is lurking in the shadows. Safe to say, her relatively quiet and obscure life is over, and soon she finds herself having to navigate all kinds of political, religious, and cosmic threats while her quest for vengeance morphs into a quest for salvation of all humankind. Like, no pressure, babe.
What I actually loved most, though, was how intimate this story felt despite the sheer scale of everything happening around Sarah. The first half of Ember and Steel almost has this slice-of-life quality to it once Sarah finds refuge at the duke’s castle in the forest, and I loved how the slower pacing gave us so much time to explore Sarah’s inner conflicts and the tentative relationships she builds along the way. I mean, I always enjoy close first person storytelling, but the audiobook experience made me love it even more here, because Diana Croft absolutely nails Sarah’s voice and brings the diverse cast of characters to life so effortlessly.
I do have to admit that some of the side characters in Ember and Steel paled a bit in comparison to how deeply we get to peek into Sarah’s complex mind, but I still absolutely loved the found family vibes and the healthy slow-burn romance at the core of the story. The trio of dashing heroes, Gwith, Caz, and Taran, really captured my heart, and I appreciated how their protectiveness towards Sarah never completely swallowed up her own agency because they recognised her own strength and power. I mean, seeing Sarah finally find her place with people who don't just tolerate her different way of thinking and acting but actually appreciate her for it and make her feel wanted was so heartwarming, and I loved following her journey of growth as she realised that she doesn’t need to change herself to be worthy of love, friendship, or belonging.
Yet despite all those intimate and almost cosy moments, Ember and Steel still manages to feel properly epic, dark, and occasionally downright disturbing, and I was so here for that balance. The way that Morgan brought this rich world with its dark lore, Celtic vibes, Druids, dire wolves, elves, and all kinds of fantastical creatures to life had me completely immersed, and I loved how there was this constant sense of anticipatory dread because of all the hints that there is something much bigger and much darker happening underneath everything Sarah was experiencing. Especially the mysterious secondary POV had me highly intrigued, and the way that Morgan tied it all to the main storyline with Sarah was so satisfying and exciting.
Honestly, all the different elements and aspects of the story just weave together so seamlessly, and I loved how Morgan slowly built up the tension and stakes on a romantic, political, emotional, and magical level as we reached the climax(es?). Even though I never got quite as emotionally invested as I wanted to be, I still absolutely inhaled this audiobook and I am beyond eager to see where things will go in the next instalment. I think Ember & Steel is one hell of a strong start to the Breitho Chronicles, and I’d highly recommend it if you’re looking for a diverse dark epic romantic fantasy that feels both comfortingly familiar and refreshingly unique.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
Read this review and more on my Medium page: Distorted Visions
Score: 2.5/5
Since this is an ARC, the review aims to be as Spoiler-free as possible.
The debut offering by Donna Morgan and the first entry in The Breitho Chronicles, Ember and Steel, is a combination of dark fantasy and fantasy romance, telling a tale of good vs. evil, light vs. dark, life vs. death.
Set in the kingdom of Breitho, Ember and Steel follows events through the eyes of Sarah Brandt, as she escapes hardship, is rescued by dashing heroes, is possessed by a mysterious power, and must use this new-found fire to save the ones she cares for most, as well as the world! The world of this novel has influences from the British Isles, with druids, dire wolves, and various creatures with vague Celtic imagery.
Our heroine, Sarah narrowly escapes the unjust murder of her friend Melody, and is rescued by the heroic trio of Sir Gwithyas “Gwith” Lowan, Casworron “Caz” and Taran. Together, they must guard Sarah, after she is possessed by the mysterious Ember, a fire elemental, on her quest to battle darkness and death.
The setting with the nods to Brittonic influences, with the landscapes, and creatures therein, as well as the crisp description of action set-pieces worked well for me.
Sadly, that was all that worked for me.
At its core, stripped off all stylistic accoutrements, Ember and Steel is as generic as it gets in this space. From the paragraph Sarah gets rescued by Gwith and his merry men, I predicted the story, identifying the character archetypes, the romantic progression, and the inevitable strife that would come. I was disappointed that every single one of my predictions were painfully on-the-money, with very little diversion from the bog-standard fantasy romance plot. The conflict of Sarah dealing with her new-found power, the standard training montages, the various exploratory quests, and the inevitable final conflict, felt more like window dressing rather than a hefty plot with tense stakes.
The characterization of the main crew and the smattering of side characters also felt trite to the point of tedium. Central to Ember and Steel is Sarah, the social outcast, with the heart of gold, feeling guilt from failing Melody and scrambling to control the Ember within her. Sarah comes off as the standard Fantasy Romance female main character (or FMC as the BookTokers call ‘em), following a well-trod character arc from scared girl to powerful heroine (obviously still full of doubt and strength).
At one point in the story, the author drops that Sarah is thirty years old! Which makes her characterization even more bafflingly mundane. Without that one reference, I had cast Sarah as your standard doe-eyed early twenty-year-old FMC. Her inner thoughts, reactions to events, and interactions with other cast and circumstances do not fit even a sheltered lady of thirty. Reading other reviews, I am informed that Sarah shows patterns common to neurodivergent behaviors, and others have celebrated this representation. While some of her characterization may be explained with this extra information, my critique of her lukewarm personality stands.
Even to someone who only occasionally dips his toes into Fantasy Romance, and tends to stay away from Romantasy, the trio of heroes felt tediously stereotypical. We have the central male, the broody male love interest Gwith is a cardboard cutout of a romantic lead. Reeking nobility, hiding personal turmoil, showing stalwart loyalty to friends, and throwing himself armor and blade first into protecting his new love interest, Gwith feels less like a well-crafted protagonist (or even a love-interest) and more like trope-board that the TikTok-ers are so enamored by. Along with Gwith, Taran and Caz form your standard sidekicks. Without direct comparison to the caricature of barbs and flowers, the sidekick duo feel like pale imitations of characters we’ve seen in that (and many, many other fantasy romance) series. The fussy Taran and the bluff, irreverent Caz, these characters are barely given any depth beyond being foils for Sarah and Gwith, hopping in and out where the plot wants feeling more like trope-props than fleshed out characters. A smattering of side characters make an appearance, but also follow the mold they are written into, providing very little other than what the plot and setting demand to keep the story moving.
The romance in Ember and Steel feels very rushed and altogether predictable. Following the Romantasy 101 progression beat for beat, I was able to call out individual checkpoints and when the romantic duo finally converge, there is very little triumph to the reader, rather I felt like the box was finally (even rushingly so) checked off, so we could get back to the story.
My major gripe with Ember and Steel is that it feels overwritten and underwritten at the same time! The dialog and descriptions are overwrought, with lackluster dialog using standard tropes. With very little to be found in terms of individual character voice, the dialogue falls flat. While the story largely follows a push forward momentum, I cannot help but be bogged down by over-described sections, with the author falling into the amateur trap of over-writing every section, every emotion, every monologue till a point of nigh-frustration. In contrast, the predictable plot, stereotypical characters, with a mundane heroine, a mediocre antagonist with very little menace, Ember and Steel also feels underbaked with very little depth. A skilled editor would have cut down large portions of this story to tell a tighter, more focused, narrative with more heft brought by impactful moments. There were also several typos and grammatical errors that were jarringly apparent, and frustratingly made it past various edits to the ARC copy received close to official release.
Overall, Ember and Steel is a standard fantasy romance. A predictable plot, lackluster characters, a rushed romantic plot, and a window-dressing incidental world plot, this book is a middling debut. Morgan will have to put in serious work in future sequels to expand her world, give her characters some more meat to gnaw on, and twist and turn standard tropes, if The Breitho Chronicles wants to be noticed in a saturated genre.
Advanced Review Copy provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to BookSirens.
Score: 2.5/5
Since this is an ARC, the review aims to be as Spoiler-free as possible.
The debut offering by Donna Morgan and the first entry in The Breitho Chronicles, Ember and Steel, is a combination of dark fantasy and fantasy romance, telling a tale of good vs. evil, light vs. dark, life vs. death.
Set in the kingdom of Breitho, Ember and Steel follows events through the eyes of Sarah Brandt, as she escapes hardship, is rescued by dashing heroes, is possessed by a mysterious power, and must use this new-found fire to save the ones she cares for most, as well as the world! The world of this novel has influences from the British Isles, with druids, dire wolves, and various creatures with vague Celtic imagery.
Our heroine, Sarah narrowly escapes the unjust murder of her friend Melody, and is rescued by the heroic trio of Sir Gwithyas “Gwith” Lowan, Casworron “Caz” and Taran. Together, they must guard Sarah, after she is possessed by the mysterious Ember, a fire elemental, on her quest to battle darkness and death.
The setting with the nods to Brittonic influences, with the landscapes, and creatures therein, as well as the crisp description of action set-pieces worked well for me.
Sadly, that was all that worked for me.
At its core, stripped off all stylistic accoutrements, Ember and Steel is as generic as it gets in this space. From the paragraph Sarah gets rescued by Gwith and his merry men, I predicted the story, identifying the character archetypes, the romantic progression, and the inevitable strife that would come. I was disappointed that every single one of my predictions were painfully on-the-money, with very little diversion from the bog-standard fantasy romance plot. The conflict of Sarah dealing with her new-found power, the standard training montages, the various exploratory quests, and the inevitable final conflict, felt more like window dressing rather than a hefty plot with tense stakes.
The characterization of the main crew and the smattering of side characters also felt trite to the point of tedium. Central to Ember and Steel is Sarah, the social outcast, with the heart of gold, feeling guilt from failing Melody and scrambling to control the Ember within her. Sarah comes off as the standard Fantasy Romance female main character (or FMC as the BookTokers call ‘em), following a well-trod character arc from scared girl to powerful heroine (obviously still full of doubt and strength).
At one point in the story, the author drops that Sarah is thirty years old! Which makes her characterization even more bafflingly mundane. Without that one reference, I had cast Sarah as your standard doe-eyed early twenty-year-old FMC. Her inner thoughts, reactions to events, and interactions with other cast and circumstances do not fit even a sheltered lady of thirty. Reading other reviews, I am informed that Sarah shows patterns common to neurodivergent behaviors, and others have celebrated this representation. While some of her characterization may be explained with this extra information, my critique of her lukewarm personality stands.
Even to someone who only occasionally dips his toes into Fantasy Romance, and tends to stay away from Romantasy, the trio of heroes felt tediously stereotypical. We have the central male, the broody male love interest Gwith is a cardboard cutout of a romantic lead. Reeking nobility, hiding personal turmoil, showing stalwart loyalty to friends, and throwing himself armor and blade first into protecting his new love interest, Gwith feels less like a well-crafted protagonist (or even a love-interest) and more like trope-board that the TikTok-ers are so enamored by. Along with Gwith, Taran and Caz form your standard sidekicks. Without direct comparison to the caricature of barbs and flowers, the sidekick duo feel like pale imitations of characters we’ve seen in that (and many, many other fantasy romance) series. The fussy Taran and the bluff, irreverent Caz, these characters are barely given any depth beyond being foils for Sarah and Gwith, hopping in and out where the plot wants feeling more like trope-props than fleshed out characters. A smattering of side characters make an appearance, but also follow the mold they are written into, providing very little other than what the plot and setting demand to keep the story moving.
The romance in Ember and Steel feels very rushed and altogether predictable. Following the Romantasy 101 progression beat for beat, I was able to call out individual checkpoints and when the romantic duo finally converge, there is very little triumph to the reader, rather I felt like the box was finally (even rushingly so) checked off, so we could get back to the story.
My major gripe with Ember and Steel is that it feels overwritten and underwritten at the same time! The dialog and descriptions are overwrought, with lackluster dialog using standard tropes. With very little to be found in terms of individual character voice, the dialogue falls flat. While the story largely follows a push forward momentum, I cannot help but be bogged down by over-described sections, with the author falling into the amateur trap of over-writing every section, every emotion, every monologue till a point of nigh-frustration. In contrast, the predictable plot, stereotypical characters, with a mundane heroine, a mediocre antagonist with very little menace, Ember and Steel also feels underbaked with very little depth. A skilled editor would have cut down large portions of this story to tell a tighter, more focused, narrative with more heft brought by impactful moments. There were also several typos and grammatical errors that were jarringly apparent, and frustratingly made it past various edits to the ARC copy received close to official release.
Overall, Ember and Steel is a standard fantasy romance. A predictable plot, lackluster characters, a rushed romantic plot, and a window-dressing incidental world plot, this book is a middling debut. Morgan will have to put in serious work in future sequels to expand her world, give her characters some more meat to gnaw on, and twist and turn standard tropes, if The Breitho Chronicles wants to be noticed in a saturated genre.
Advanced Review Copy provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to BookSirens.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I requested an ARC of this book because it’s exactly the sort of dark fantasy I devour by the bucket-load, and I’m so glad I did, because this was incredible!
We’re thrown straight into the action alongside MC Sarah from the very first chapter, following her as she and her friend Melody flee the pursuit of a group of sinister men who mean them ill. From there, Sarah stumbles into the path of a decidedly less-sinister group, who in time will become her found family.
As the story progresses, the threats facing Sarah evolve and grow, until she’s not just trying to preserve her own life, but now has the fate of possibly the entire world on her unsuited shoulders. This is where Sarah distinguishes herself as a thoroughly engaging character because, rather than buckle beneath the pressure, she rises to the challenge and wades her way through it in her own fashion. The answers aren’t presented to her easily, and she doesn’t master the powerful magic thrust upon her without a good number of hurdles. Nothing felt like it was overcome too easily, and every step Sarah made on her journey was earned.
She’s not an accomplished warrior (in fact, she has to be taught the rudiments of sword fighting because she has no experience), and she’s not the gallant, overconfident hero of traditional fantasy. She’s better than that, because Sarah is flawed and human and complex. She doesn’t see the world the same way as others, and was made a pariah in her hometown. People look down on her and judge her. Even when she makes powerful friends and proves herself a selfless, compassionate woman, people still try to take advantage of her, or sneer at her. She doesn’t let her anger overwhelm her, though she’s not averse to letting her righteous feminine rage fuel some of her actions. When she’s betrayed, she listens to the reasons why and takes the time to understand how someone could undermine her to their own detriment.
The supporting cast were just as strong in their own ways. Gwith, for example, was framed, at first, as being the stoic, older warrior who rarely cracks a smile and refuses to put himself first. As the narrative develops and Sarah spends more time with him, we as the reader learn more about what drives him, and come to appreciate the personal setbacks he’s faced and how they’ve influenced the man he is today. Caz and Taran, the other two members of Sarah’s tight-knit little group, were more light-hearted and jocular, able to see the positives in an otherwise quite dark situation.
I also really appreciated the way the Church of the New Dawn was handled. It’s quite refreshing, reading a fantasy book where the central religion isn’t righteous, moral, or overly championed. Instead, the Church was used as a lens through which to view the consequences of human greed and what fear of a group of people (in this case magic-users and Druids) can do when weaponised by a powerful institution.
There was also a romance subplot that became slightly more prominent in the second half, and I think it added a great deal to the story in terms of the more emotional angle. Whilst Sarah is rightly concerned with saving the world, she’s also navigating the precarious waters of what could well be her first proper relationship (we’re given to believe her outsider status in her hometown didn’t really allow for previous relationships). She and her love interest (not naming names) share a lot of chemistry even before they admit to their feelings for one another, and the build-up of their initial yearning was subtle and tactful.
I won’t delve too far into the plot to avoid the risk of giving too much away, but suffice to say it unfolded in a satisfying manner. The build-up was perfectly paced, giving us the necessary downtime between important scenes to show Sarah developing friendships and relationships with the people in her life, and stepping into her role as an unwitting saviour. This is very much the first book in a series, so don’t expect a neat tying-off of all the plot threads. However, the most important arcs do come to their natural close here, and there’s plenty of set-up for the sequel.
Overall, I had such a great time reading this book. I eagerly anticipate the next books in this series, as I really want to know what Sarah, Gwith, Taran, and Caz do next.
Thank you to the author for my ARC :)
We’re thrown straight into the action alongside MC Sarah from the very first chapter, following her as she and her friend Melody flee the pursuit of a group of sinister men who mean them ill. From there, Sarah stumbles into the path of a decidedly less-sinister group, who in time will become her found family.
As the story progresses, the threats facing Sarah evolve and grow, until she’s not just trying to preserve her own life, but now has the fate of possibly the entire world on her unsuited shoulders. This is where Sarah distinguishes herself as a thoroughly engaging character because, rather than buckle beneath the pressure, she rises to the challenge and wades her way through it in her own fashion. The answers aren’t presented to her easily, and she doesn’t master the powerful magic thrust upon her without a good number of hurdles. Nothing felt like it was overcome too easily, and every step Sarah made on her journey was earned.
She’s not an accomplished warrior (in fact, she has to be taught the rudiments of sword fighting because she has no experience), and she’s not the gallant, overconfident hero of traditional fantasy. She’s better than that, because Sarah is flawed and human and complex. She doesn’t see the world the same way as others, and was made a pariah in her hometown. People look down on her and judge her. Even when she makes powerful friends and proves herself a selfless, compassionate woman, people still try to take advantage of her, or sneer at her. She doesn’t let her anger overwhelm her, though she’s not averse to letting her righteous feminine rage fuel some of her actions. When she’s betrayed, she listens to the reasons why and takes the time to understand how someone could undermine her to their own detriment.
The supporting cast were just as strong in their own ways. Gwith, for example, was framed, at first, as being the stoic, older warrior who rarely cracks a smile and refuses to put himself first. As the narrative develops and Sarah spends more time with him, we as the reader learn more about what drives him, and come to appreciate the personal setbacks he’s faced and how they’ve influenced the man he is today. Caz and Taran, the other two members of Sarah’s tight-knit little group, were more light-hearted and jocular, able to see the positives in an otherwise quite dark situation.
I also really appreciated the way the Church of the New Dawn was handled. It’s quite refreshing, reading a fantasy book where the central religion isn’t righteous, moral, or overly championed. Instead, the Church was used as a lens through which to view the consequences of human greed and what fear of a group of people (in this case magic-users and Druids) can do when weaponised by a powerful institution.
There was also a romance subplot that became slightly more prominent in the second half, and I think it added a great deal to the story in terms of the more emotional angle. Whilst Sarah is rightly concerned with saving the world, she’s also navigating the precarious waters of what could well be her first proper relationship (we’re given to believe her outsider status in her hometown didn’t really allow for previous relationships). She and her love interest (not naming names) share a lot of chemistry even before they admit to their feelings for one another, and the build-up of their initial yearning was subtle and tactful.
I won’t delve too far into the plot to avoid the risk of giving too much away, but suffice to say it unfolded in a satisfying manner. The build-up was perfectly paced, giving us the necessary downtime between important scenes to show Sarah developing friendships and relationships with the people in her life, and stepping into her role as an unwitting saviour. This is very much the first book in a series, so don’t expect a neat tying-off of all the plot threads. However, the most important arcs do come to their natural close here, and there’s plenty of set-up for the sequel.
Overall, I had such a great time reading this book. I eagerly anticipate the next books in this series, as I really want to know what Sarah, Gwith, Taran, and Caz do next.
Thank you to the author for my ARC :)
February 7, 2026
✨ ARC review ✨
📖 Ember and Steel - Donna Morgan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow… I truly loved this one.
A fantasy that delivers all the essentials I crave — magic woven deep into the bones of the world, distant and ever-silent gods, and a plot that constantly whispers just one more chapter.
Our FMC, Sarah, is a neurodivergent baddie in the truest sense — proof that you don’t need to be flawless to be formidable ⚔️ Her strength feels real, earned, and quietly powerful.
From the very first pages, I was completely gripped. The worldbuilding pulled me in, and the mystery of the gods lingering in the background had me desperate to uncover more.
My only small note: I would have loved more quiet, everyday moments between the characters. While I adored the groundwork laid for Caz and Taran, I felt their relationships could have been explored more deeply to give certain moments an even greater emotional weight.
And that ending… prepare yourself.
Heart-shattering, emotionally relentless, and utterly unforgettable. The rollercoaster hurts — in the best way.
I can’t wait to see everyone’s thoughts when this officially releases on 9th March 🌙📖
📖 Ember and Steel - Donna Morgan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow… I truly loved this one.
A fantasy that delivers all the essentials I crave — magic woven deep into the bones of the world, distant and ever-silent gods, and a plot that constantly whispers just one more chapter.
Our FMC, Sarah, is a neurodivergent baddie in the truest sense — proof that you don’t need to be flawless to be formidable ⚔️ Her strength feels real, earned, and quietly powerful.
From the very first pages, I was completely gripped. The worldbuilding pulled me in, and the mystery of the gods lingering in the background had me desperate to uncover more.
My only small note: I would have loved more quiet, everyday moments between the characters. While I adored the groundwork laid for Caz and Taran, I felt their relationships could have been explored more deeply to give certain moments an even greater emotional weight.
And that ending… prepare yourself.
Heart-shattering, emotionally relentless, and utterly unforgettable. The rollercoaster hurts — in the best way.
I can’t wait to see everyone’s thoughts when this officially releases on 9th March 🌙📖
July 25, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ember and Steel is an exceptional debut that reminded me why I fell in love with epic fantasy in the first place.
Donna Morgan has created a world that feels both familiar and refreshingly unique, weaving together ancient magic, prophecy, political intrigue, and terrifying creatures into a story that kept me completely invested. The pacing strikes a great balance and the relationship between the main characters is believable and grows over the course of the story.
Sarah is such a compelling protagonist. She isn’t the stereotypical fearless warrior we’re used to seeing in fantasy, and that’s exactly what makes her so memorable. Watching her grow into her strength while staying true to herself was one of my favourite parts of the book. The neurodivergent representation felt thoughtful and authentic, adding another layer to an already well-developed character.
The found family dynamics absolutely stole my heart. Every member of the group brought something different to the story, and their loyalty, banter, and unwavering support made me emotionally invested in every page. Add in a slow-burn romance that develops naturally alongside the adventure, and I was completely hooked.
If you love dark fantasy with classic quest vibes, ancient magic, emotional character arcs, found family, and a heroine you’ll be cheering for from start to finish, Ember and Steel deserves a place on your TBR. It’s a fantastic start to what promises to be an incredible series, and I already can’t wait to return to Breitho.
Ember and Steel is an exceptional debut that reminded me why I fell in love with epic fantasy in the first place.
Donna Morgan has created a world that feels both familiar and refreshingly unique, weaving together ancient magic, prophecy, political intrigue, and terrifying creatures into a story that kept me completely invested. The pacing strikes a great balance and the relationship between the main characters is believable and grows over the course of the story.
Sarah is such a compelling protagonist. She isn’t the stereotypical fearless warrior we’re used to seeing in fantasy, and that’s exactly what makes her so memorable. Watching her grow into her strength while staying true to herself was one of my favourite parts of the book. The neurodivergent representation felt thoughtful and authentic, adding another layer to an already well-developed character.
The found family dynamics absolutely stole my heart. Every member of the group brought something different to the story, and their loyalty, banter, and unwavering support made me emotionally invested in every page. Add in a slow-burn romance that develops naturally alongside the adventure, and I was completely hooked.
If you love dark fantasy with classic quest vibes, ancient magic, emotional character arcs, found family, and a heroine you’ll be cheering for from start to finish, Ember and Steel deserves a place on your TBR. It’s a fantastic start to what promises to be an incredible series, and I already can’t wait to return to Breitho.
July 28, 2026
From the very first chapter, Ember & Steel had me hooked. The opening is brutal, and the story wastes no time pulling you into the action.
We follow Sarah, who's on the run after witnessing a horrific act, and the tension never really lets up.
The fantasy world is wonderfully imagined, filled with different beings, unique powers, and an underlying thread of political intrigue. What starts as a dark, intense story gradually grows into one about found family, as Sarah forms friendships with a memorable cast of characters.
What really stood out to me, though, was Sarah herself. As someone who's neurodivergent, I can honestly say this is one of the most authentic portrayals of neurodivergence I've ever read. Nothing felt exaggerated or stereotypical. It simply felt real.
After chatting with Donna , I learned she has 44 years of lived experience with neurodivergence, and it absolutely shows in the care and authenticity woven throughout Sarah's character.
If you're looking for an indie fantasy with a gripping opening, rich world-building, found family, and genuinely authentic neurodivergent representation, I'd definitely recommend picking up Ember & Steel.
We follow Sarah, who's on the run after witnessing a horrific act, and the tension never really lets up.
The fantasy world is wonderfully imagined, filled with different beings, unique powers, and an underlying thread of political intrigue. What starts as a dark, intense story gradually grows into one about found family, as Sarah forms friendships with a memorable cast of characters.
What really stood out to me, though, was Sarah herself. As someone who's neurodivergent, I can honestly say this is one of the most authentic portrayals of neurodivergence I've ever read. Nothing felt exaggerated or stereotypical. It simply felt real.
After chatting with Donna , I learned she has 44 years of lived experience with neurodivergence, and it absolutely shows in the care and authenticity woven throughout Sarah's character.
If you're looking for an indie fantasy with a gripping opening, rich world-building, found family, and genuinely authentic neurodivergent representation, I'd definitely recommend picking up Ember & Steel.
August 5, 2026
Ember and Steel is a truly enjoyable read and an excellent debut. I was hooked by the very first chapter.
This is very much a character-driven story and I love the characters. Sarah is an underdog. She never fully gains confidence in her abilities and that makes the story seem much more real. Even though she is taught to fight, she does not instantly become a warrior and still relies on her friends. Her progression feels very natural. There is a great character dynamic between Gwith, Caz and Taran. They accept Sarah into the mix and it's the first time she starts to feel like she belongs somewhere. It was also refreshing that royalty was very much on her side, despite her background. She had allies and they never doubted her.
There is a chapter about 70% into the book that is so satisfying, I almost wanted to go back and read it again and again. It rights a wrong in a way that made me smile... of course, some may cringe at it. You'll know when you get there.
This story is not about the action, though there are some high stakes involved and there are some intense scenes. It's a story about emotions, growth and acceptance. I felt everything that Sarah felt and that bumped my rating to 4.5 (rounded up).
Ember and Steel has a satisfying enough ending to be read as a standalone, but I personally am looking forward to continuing.
This is very much a character-driven story and I love the characters. Sarah is an underdog. She never fully gains confidence in her abilities and that makes the story seem much more real. Even though she is taught to fight, she does not instantly become a warrior and still relies on her friends. Her progression feels very natural. There is a great character dynamic between Gwith, Caz and Taran. They accept Sarah into the mix and it's the first time she starts to feel like she belongs somewhere. It was also refreshing that royalty was very much on her side, despite her background. She had allies and they never doubted her.
There is a chapter about 70% into the book that is so satisfying, I almost wanted to go back and read it again and again. It rights a wrong in a way that made me smile... of course, some may cringe at it. You'll know when you get there.
This story is not about the action, though there are some high stakes involved and there are some intense scenes. It's a story about emotions, growth and acceptance. I felt everything that Sarah felt and that bumped my rating to 4.5 (rounded up).
Ember and Steel has a satisfying enough ending to be read as a standalone, but I personally am looking forward to continuing.
July 21, 2026
Ember & Steel's opening chapters reeled me in hook line and sinker from the get go. I enjoyed Donna's writing style and the imagery of the first scenes where very well done, they gut punched my emotions pretty hard.
The FMC, Sarah, is the way neurodivergent representation should be written. All of her character traits, inner monologue and behaviours were well woven through the story and believable. She wasn't depicted this way just for clout or a box ticking exercise, and there is actually a lot to be learnt from her and the way others interact with her if you take notice.
I really enjoyed the mythical creatures and hope to see much more of them in the next book. Apparently i am also one of the first readers to pick up a reference to a massive event from the 70s - now, theres a reason to go and read it alone, see if you can find it!
I think this story could have stood alone without the romance and been enriched by side characters just the same however it still fit within the scope of the story and romantic folk will enjoy it.
All in all i enjoyed this, recommend it without hesitation and want to say thankyou to Donna Morgan for the Advanced Listener Copy of Ember and Steel which i tandem read alongside my BookMatch ecopy. This is my honest review and all opinions are my own.
The FMC, Sarah, is the way neurodivergent representation should be written. All of her character traits, inner monologue and behaviours were well woven through the story and believable. She wasn't depicted this way just for clout or a box ticking exercise, and there is actually a lot to be learnt from her and the way others interact with her if you take notice.
I really enjoyed the mythical creatures and hope to see much more of them in the next book. Apparently i am also one of the first readers to pick up a reference to a massive event from the 70s - now, theres a reason to go and read it alone, see if you can find it!
I think this story could have stood alone without the romance and been enriched by side characters just the same however it still fit within the scope of the story and romantic folk will enjoy it.
All in all i enjoyed this, recommend it without hesitation and want to say thankyou to Donna Morgan for the Advanced Listener Copy of Ember and Steel which i tandem read alongside my BookMatch ecopy. This is my honest review and all opinions are my own.
March 11, 2026
my rating is 4.25
This was a very good read, with good pacing and characters I wanted to root for.
The opening chapter is both brutal and rage inducing. Our FMC experiences a huge loss and is forced to run for her life.
What happens after begins her journey to power and fire.
Found family, a slow burn love and some awesome side characters round out the book.
Highly recommend!
Thank you Donna for the ARC to read and review. my thoughts are my own.
This was a very good read, with good pacing and characters I wanted to root for.
The opening chapter is both brutal and rage inducing. Our FMC experiences a huge loss and is forced to run for her life.
What happens after begins her journey to power and fire.
Found family, a slow burn love and some awesome side characters round out the book.
Highly recommend!
Thank you Donna for the ARC to read and review. my thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received the arc for this book and enjoyed it thoroughly, I enjoyed the plot and pacing, this book didn't take long to get going with action from the first page, I enjoyed the world and it's characters I couldn't put it down as something was never far away from happening, if you enjoyed the empire of the wolf trilogy by Richard swan I believe you'll enjoy this book too. After my re-read and being able to look at everything much closer there's no way I can't give this book 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review of advance copy received from Author
Now this? this is representation. I've never felt so seen in a book before. Morgan wrote far more than a fantasy book. She's spoken up for the ND community and created a fantastic fantasy around it.
The fantasy elements were wonderful. There are many different types of beings, with different powers, all with a background of political intrigue. The FMCs story starts of dark, but goes full circle as she meets a group of the Dukes elite men. You read as she forms connections and friendships with each of them.
The romance 'will they, won't they' had me kicking my feet. The characters surrounding the main 2 even comment on it, which felt like a tiny 4th wall comedy moment. The emotion poured out of Morgans soul and put onto the page is breathtaking.
I had to take pauses from reading due to physical reactions, be it crying from reading about my life with ND on the pages of a fantasy book, emotional scenes, or excitement at what's going on!
I'll leave you with one of my highlights, which will hopefully show you the decadence of Morgans writing:
"In the time before the gods, Tewolgow Bras claimed all of the nothing,” she began cryptically. “There was nothing to claim, and it claimed all of it. The Great Darkness crawled with beings of malice and hatred, all parts of a hideous whole"
The fantasy elements were wonderful. There are many different types of beings, with different powers, all with a background of political intrigue. The FMCs story starts of dark, but goes full circle as she meets a group of the Dukes elite men. You read as she forms connections and friendships with each of them.
The romance 'will they, won't they' had me kicking my feet. The characters surrounding the main 2 even comment on it, which felt like a tiny 4th wall comedy moment. The emotion poured out of Morgans soul and put onto the page is breathtaking.
I had to take pauses from reading due to physical reactions, be it crying from reading about my life with ND on the pages of a fantasy book, emotional scenes, or excitement at what's going on!
I'll leave you with one of my highlights, which will hopefully show you the decadence of Morgans writing:
"In the time before the gods, Tewolgow Bras claimed all of the nothing,” she began cryptically. “There was nothing to claim, and it claimed all of it. The Great Darkness crawled with beings of malice and hatred, all parts of a hideous whole"
August 10, 2026
If you are bored of the same story on repeat of every FMC being underage and somehow knows how to fight and has zero fear, then this book is for you.
This book flips everything. The main character Sarah is not underage or just coming of age, she is in her 30s, is awkward, known as the outcast and witness to something tragic that is then pinned on her because of who she is. Sarah, is what I would describe, as someone who appears to be Autistic, the way her character is described as having sensitivity to foods, difficulty with people, places and 'odd behaviours' as expressed by others opinions expresses this.
Sarah goes on to develop in herself as a person but still is her awkward self, which I thoroughly love, rather than the sudden glow up you see in every generic book (there's no problem with that, it's just a refreshing take).
We also have a 'band' of warriors that travel with her all with their own character features and its interesting to see their evolution as well as we see the story progress.
Well written with a lot of emotion. Characters developed. Twists that I wasn't expecting, including the hierarchy stances (which is also a new way at seeing a story flow). I cannot wait to see where this goes.
This book flips everything. The main character Sarah is not underage or just coming of age, she is in her 30s, is awkward, known as the outcast and witness to something tragic that is then pinned on her because of who she is. Sarah, is what I would describe, as someone who appears to be Autistic, the way her character is described as having sensitivity to foods, difficulty with people, places and 'odd behaviours' as expressed by others opinions expresses this.
Sarah goes on to develop in herself as a person but still is her awkward self, which I thoroughly love, rather than the sudden glow up you see in every generic book (there's no problem with that, it's just a refreshing take).
We also have a 'band' of warriors that travel with her all with their own character features and its interesting to see their evolution as well as we see the story progress.
Well written with a lot of emotion. Characters developed. Twists that I wasn't expecting, including the hierarchy stances (which is also a new way at seeing a story flow). I cannot wait to see where this goes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2026
I really enjoyed Embers and Steel by Donna Morgan. Her story pulled me in straight away and was super easy to get lost in. It’s a dark fantasy with a really strong atmosphere, but what made it stand out for me was how character-driven it is.
The developing found family aspect was one of my favourite parts. The relationships feel natural and slowly build over time, which makes the emotional moments hit so much harder. There’s also a really compelling love story woven in—it doesn’t feel rushed or forced, just develops in a way that actually makes you care.
Sarah as a main character is great to follow. She’s dealing with this unknown power that she doesn’t fully understand, and watching her struggle to control it adds a lot of tension and depth to the story. It keeps things interesting because you’re never quite sure what’s going to happen next.
The pacing was solid too—enough action to keep you hooked, mixed with quieter moments that let everything breathe. Overall, it’s a really engaging read with a nice mix of dark fantasy, emotion, and character growth.
Definitely recommend if you like stories with dark fantasy, and slow-burn romance.
The developing found family aspect was one of my favourite parts. The relationships feel natural and slowly build over time, which makes the emotional moments hit so much harder. There’s also a really compelling love story woven in—it doesn’t feel rushed or forced, just develops in a way that actually makes you care.
Sarah as a main character is great to follow. She’s dealing with this unknown power that she doesn’t fully understand, and watching her struggle to control it adds a lot of tension and depth to the story. It keeps things interesting because you’re never quite sure what’s going to happen next.
The pacing was solid too—enough action to keep you hooked, mixed with quieter moments that let everything breathe. Overall, it’s a really engaging read with a nice mix of dark fantasy, emotion, and character growth.
Definitely recommend if you like stories with dark fantasy, and slow-burn romance.
July 17, 2026
This was a interesting dark fantasy novel that dove straight into the deep end, lead character Sarah's brave attempt to rescue her best friend from an abusive forced marriage sadly ends in being framed for her death, finding refuge in the forest with a local dukes men(yay for found family) Sarah has barely any time to react to the horrific night before mythical events tie her fate into that of the world itself...
I really liked Sarah as a lead character, she's Autistic and its always nice to see well written rep of ND in SFF , forced into a war while struggling with the feeling of being responsible for Melodys death, Sarah's mistakes yet insistence on going on make her a very enduring character, even the training montages were interesting because she is not like the classic hero who suddenly becomes a sword master after swinging one for 5 minutesm
And the support cast is nice and strong as well, particular shout out to secondary lead Gwith,the head strong/stoic leader of the guard whose mental armor is chipped away across his engagements with Sarah in a will they/won't they tease to reveal theres more to him than he implies.
I really liked Sarah as a lead character, she's Autistic and its always nice to see well written rep of ND in SFF , forced into a war while struggling with the feeling of being responsible for Melodys death, Sarah's mistakes yet insistence on going on make her a very enduring character, even the training montages were interesting because she is not like the classic hero who suddenly becomes a sword master after swinging one for 5 minutesm
And the support cast is nice and strong as well, particular shout out to secondary lead Gwith,the head strong/stoic leader of the guard whose mental armor is chipped away across his engagements with Sarah in a will they/won't they tease to reveal theres more to him than he implies.
August 14, 2026
This story starts out with a scene that is a bit brutal but sets the tone for how the world is for Sarah.
Sarah is a great protagonist - and as noted at the start of the book - "consider yourself forewarned that some matters I cover are…unpleasant. I see no gain in shying away from the brutality and violence I have witnessed. Your discretion is advised as some moments I will recall were bloody, heart breaking and utterly sickening."
The story definitely doesn't shy away from gore. There is not as much as I have encountered in other stories but this felt creepier.
This story has great pacing, I never felt like too much was happening at once and it definitely picked up as we got closer to the climax of the story with the bad guy. It was a great first book and leads into the second one well.
Lots of familiar tropes that go hand in hand with fantasy, but done in a way that feels different enough to not be a clone of other books.
Can't wait for the rest!
Sarah is a great protagonist - and as noted at the start of the book - "consider yourself forewarned that some matters I cover are…unpleasant. I see no gain in shying away from the brutality and violence I have witnessed. Your discretion is advised as some moments I will recall were bloody, heart breaking and utterly sickening."
The story definitely doesn't shy away from gore. There is not as much as I have encountered in other stories but this felt creepier.
This story has great pacing, I never felt like too much was happening at once and it definitely picked up as we got closer to the climax of the story with the bad guy. It was a great first book and leads into the second one well.
Lots of familiar tropes that go hand in hand with fantasy, but done in a way that feels different enough to not be a clone of other books.
Can't wait for the rest!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wonderful debut filled with magic, gore, revenge and a reluctant hero on a quest to save all of humanity.
From chapter one, the action kicks in as we meet Sarah, witnessing her best and only friend being murdered, for which she is framed. She faces the impossible choice of staying and possibly facing her own death or running for her life, with the hope that one day she could get revenge.
During her escape, she stumbles upon a force that changes her life irreversibly, and before her, a threat on the grandest scale unravels, leaving her no choice but to act.
Sarah's character is endearing and intriguing, pushing aside the status quo of the typical hero representation by being autistic. The lesson she learns along the way is that it's okay not to fit in, that it's okay to be unique, and that you can be embraced for who you are. Most importantly, it doesn't prevent you from being the hero at the end of the day.
Gwith, on the other hand, is the absolute embodiment of the word knight - loyal to the bone, brave with the biggest heart hidden behind the armour. That makes the combination between him and Sarah all the more heartwarming and sweet in a world that is all but.
Caz is hands down the most charming character of them all, managing to bring levity to the most intense of situations, like a spark of hope much needed.
Really glad I had the chance to pick up this adventure, and I'm curious what awaits them onward.
From chapter one, the action kicks in as we meet Sarah, witnessing her best and only friend being murdered, for which she is framed. She faces the impossible choice of staying and possibly facing her own death or running for her life, with the hope that one day she could get revenge.
During her escape, she stumbles upon a force that changes her life irreversibly, and before her, a threat on the grandest scale unravels, leaving her no choice but to act.
Sarah's character is endearing and intriguing, pushing aside the status quo of the typical hero representation by being autistic. The lesson she learns along the way is that it's okay not to fit in, that it's okay to be unique, and that you can be embraced for who you are. Most importantly, it doesn't prevent you from being the hero at the end of the day.
Gwith, on the other hand, is the absolute embodiment of the word knight - loyal to the bone, brave with the biggest heart hidden behind the armour. That makes the combination between him and Sarah all the more heartwarming and sweet in a world that is all but.
Caz is hands down the most charming character of them all, managing to bring levity to the most intense of situations, like a spark of hope much needed.
Really glad I had the chance to pick up this adventure, and I'm curious what awaits them onward.
March 2, 2026
ARC review - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed this book! I loved the representation with our neurodivergent FMC Sarah. She felt very raw and real and I was rooting for her the whole time. I also enjoyed the slow burn romance sub plot. The world building was interesting and I was a fan of the nonlinear timeline and the glimpses into Moriga’s story.
The pacing occasionally felt a bit off, but not enough to impact my reading. There are some elements of the world building and magic that I hope are explored further in future books. I can’t wait to see what comes next for Sarah and her band of knights!
A huge thank you to Donna Morgan for the gifted eARC!
I really enjoyed this book! I loved the representation with our neurodivergent FMC Sarah. She felt very raw and real and I was rooting for her the whole time. I also enjoyed the slow burn romance sub plot. The world building was interesting and I was a fan of the nonlinear timeline and the glimpses into Moriga’s story.
The pacing occasionally felt a bit off, but not enough to impact my reading. There are some elements of the world building and magic that I hope are explored further in future books. I can’t wait to see what comes next for Sarah and her band of knights!
A huge thank you to Donna Morgan for the gifted eARC!
August 1, 2026
Reviewed from an advance listener copy.
This one opens with a gut-punch. Sarah loses someone dear to her and is almost immediately cast aside by people who should have protected her instead, the wealthy, the pious, the ones with the most to hide. It's infuriating in exactly the way it's meant to be, and I found myself in Sarah's corner from page one. Being a little different is never a reason to be made into a scapegoat.
There's a found-family element early on that I wasn't expecting to love as much as I did, a group who just want to be left alone but show up anyway when it counts. And Gwith is quietly becoming one of my favorite parts of this book, the protective kind of love interest that feels earned rather than heavy-handed.
Without giving anything away, the middle stretch takes Sarah and her companions somewhere unexpected, and things escalate. A lot. There's danger, there's tension, and there's at least one moment involving fire that I will be thinking about for a while. Once they reach the city, Sarah finally gets the chance to tell her own story, but the timing couldn't be worse, and what follows kept me glued to my headphones.
Arnax and the Duchess deserve a special mention. I'm always here for women backing each other up.
There's also a scene near the end that made me laugh out loud for reasons I absolutely will not spoil.
And Auntie? An absolute gem. I won't say more.
Donna Morgan has written something well paced, easy to follow, and genuinely hard to put down, I'm already anxious for the next book. Diana Croft's narration was a perfect match for the tone throughout.
Rating: 5/5
This one opens with a gut-punch. Sarah loses someone dear to her and is almost immediately cast aside by people who should have protected her instead, the wealthy, the pious, the ones with the most to hide. It's infuriating in exactly the way it's meant to be, and I found myself in Sarah's corner from page one. Being a little different is never a reason to be made into a scapegoat.
There's a found-family element early on that I wasn't expecting to love as much as I did, a group who just want to be left alone but show up anyway when it counts. And Gwith is quietly becoming one of my favorite parts of this book, the protective kind of love interest that feels earned rather than heavy-handed.
Without giving anything away, the middle stretch takes Sarah and her companions somewhere unexpected, and things escalate. A lot. There's danger, there's tension, and there's at least one moment involving fire that I will be thinking about for a while. Once they reach the city, Sarah finally gets the chance to tell her own story, but the timing couldn't be worse, and what follows kept me glued to my headphones.
Arnax and the Duchess deserve a special mention. I'm always here for women backing each other up.
There's also a scene near the end that made me laugh out loud for reasons I absolutely will not spoil.
And Auntie? An absolute gem. I won't say more.
Donna Morgan has written something well paced, easy to follow, and genuinely hard to put down, I'm already anxious for the next book. Diana Croft's narration was a perfect match for the tone throughout.
Rating: 5/5
April 6, 2026
A phenomenal debut. An intricate fantasy world and richly layered story are brought to life with remarkable skill. From beginning to end, it delivers an epic and immersive adventure. The depth of character development and the strength of the plot draw you ever deeper into the world. It stirs a wide range of emotions and leaves you eager for more. I truly hope we get to return to the kingdom of Breitho again!
May 12, 2026
Ember and Steel is a fierce, atmospheric dark fantasy that opens with grief and quickly deepens into something far more haunting. Donna Morgan creates a world of ancient stones, forbidden magic, and encroaching darkness that feels both mythic and immediate. Sarah Brandt is a compelling center for the story, carrying its emotional weight with resilience, vulnerability, and growing strength. The novel balances dread and wonder well, with vivid imagery, sharp tension, and a sense of doom that never quite lets go. It is a bleak, immersive, and emotionally charged read that lingers after the final page. Fans of grimdark fantasy and old-world magic will find plenty to admire here.
June 28, 2026
Fascinating
What a fantastic read Donna, full of adventure and interesting turns and twists, I enjoyed every page and I definitely think that I want to read more!
What a fantastic read Donna, full of adventure and interesting turns and twists, I enjoyed every page and I definitely think that I want to read more!
March 18, 2026
Ember & Steel by Donna Morgan
This debut novel starts off in medias res as our FMC Sarah is fleeing for her life with her friend Melody. I enjoyed being thrown into the chaos immediately and the world was built up around this, making it feel organic. Sarah struggled as an outcast from society and I appreciated the author’s ability to bring the reader into the folds of Sarah’s mind and give insight into the inner workings of this particular neurodivergent person’s mind. It helped shape the character and her actions throughout the story.
The side characters were funny, if somewhat predictable. While I enjoyed the tension in the first half of the story, the second half whereupon the love story explodes felt a bit rushed and underwritten to me. I wanted more from the characters, their actions and conversations. The story was well-written, though I did find the conversation lacking in some areas. I was shocked when it was casually mentioned that Sarah was 30 since I had assumed she was a younger FMC due to some of her actions and thoughts.
Overall, I think this series has potential and I’d like to see where it leads. If you’re looking for a feel-good romantasy that shuts your brain off, this could be the story for you.
Thank you for the eARC from the author in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶🌶
🔹️🔹️Tropes🔹️🔹️
• Neurodivergent rep
• Slow burn
• Found family
• Multiple POV
• 30 year old FMC
This debut novel starts off in medias res as our FMC Sarah is fleeing for her life with her friend Melody. I enjoyed being thrown into the chaos immediately and the world was built up around this, making it feel organic. Sarah struggled as an outcast from society and I appreciated the author’s ability to bring the reader into the folds of Sarah’s mind and give insight into the inner workings of this particular neurodivergent person’s mind. It helped shape the character and her actions throughout the story.
The side characters were funny, if somewhat predictable. While I enjoyed the tension in the first half of the story, the second half whereupon the love story explodes felt a bit rushed and underwritten to me. I wanted more from the characters, their actions and conversations. The story was well-written, though I did find the conversation lacking in some areas. I was shocked when it was casually mentioned that Sarah was 30 since I had assumed she was a younger FMC due to some of her actions and thoughts.
Overall, I think this series has potential and I’d like to see where it leads. If you’re looking for a feel-good romantasy that shuts your brain off, this could be the story for you.
Thank you for the eARC from the author in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶🌶
🔹️🔹️Tropes🔹️🔹️
• Neurodivergent rep
• Slow burn
• Found family
• Multiple POV
• 30 year old FMC
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rcvd an ARC from the author.
We meet Sarah and her friend melody running for their lives from melody new horrible husband. When they are found melody is killed by her new hubby and thr priest will put the blame on Sarah. Sarah runs for her life in a swampy bog. She has given up and decides to join her family in the summer isle. Except she is saved but a group of men, thr Dukes men. One night they are attacked by wolf like creatures and Sarah is forced into the druid stones. She hears a voice and reaches out to the small flame. King commander Gwithyas pulls her back from the stones. Pain is all that Sarah knows and she feels smtg inside her. Venturing to the Duchy, the churches men are stopping people looking for someone or something. Things are not what they seem as Sarah can bring forth fire. She knows there ia smtg evil out there. She works with the chief archivist who happens to be a snake, and she learns he has illegal druid papers and instructs her to go in search of them for answers. A perilous journey to find answers and to find where Sarah belongs. Drama, deceit, love and acceptance make this a good book.
We meet Sarah and her friend melody running for their lives from melody new horrible husband. When they are found melody is killed by her new hubby and thr priest will put the blame on Sarah. Sarah runs for her life in a swampy bog. She has given up and decides to join her family in the summer isle. Except she is saved but a group of men, thr Dukes men. One night they are attacked by wolf like creatures and Sarah is forced into the druid stones. She hears a voice and reaches out to the small flame. King commander Gwithyas pulls her back from the stones. Pain is all that Sarah knows and she feels smtg inside her. Venturing to the Duchy, the churches men are stopping people looking for someone or something. Things are not what they seem as Sarah can bring forth fire. She knows there ia smtg evil out there. She works with the chief archivist who happens to be a snake, and she learns he has illegal druid papers and instructs her to go in search of them for answers. A perilous journey to find answers and to find where Sarah belongs. Drama, deceit, love and acceptance make this a good book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
this book was absolutely amazing. I got lucky enough to be chosen to read this as an ARC book. and let's just say this book book is fantastic. I felt as though I was in the book I felt like I was apart of Sarah's journey. Rollercoaster of emotions I felt while reading this is insane!!! I cant wait to for book two to come out
Review of advance copy received from Autorin bzw. Autor
This book is represantation done well.
We are thrust into the story and into heartbreak. We follow a traumatized womany that has not only her own weight onto her shulders, but the eintire world's. The main character, which we follow in 1st person, is no warrior, no fighter and needs to grow beyond herself quickly. At the same time she is flawed and has her shortcomings. The setting is trope heavy at points, which isn't a bad thing.
The fighting scenes were not the strong suit of the book, that was the character work. The book is darker at points, but not grim dark.
The love story subplot of will they, won't they, went on too long for my liking and I personally didn't root for them that much.
The religion was folded in well into the book, ob mulitple levels.
The pacing was mostly well done and only had a few hickups, which are easily overlooked.
If you are looking for a new twist on the classic fantasy tropes, a strong but flawed female MC and a classic feeling setting, this is the book for you.
I recived an ARC copy of the book by the author in exchange for a honest review.
We are thrust into the story and into heartbreak. We follow a traumatized womany that has not only her own weight onto her shulders, but the eintire world's. The main character, which we follow in 1st person, is no warrior, no fighter and needs to grow beyond herself quickly. At the same time she is flawed and has her shortcomings. The setting is trope heavy at points, which isn't a bad thing.
The fighting scenes were not the strong suit of the book, that was the character work. The book is darker at points, but not grim dark.
The love story subplot of will they, won't they, went on too long for my liking and I personally didn't root for them that much.
The religion was folded in well into the book, ob mulitple levels.
The pacing was mostly well done and only had a few hickups, which are easily overlooked.
If you are looking for a new twist on the classic fantasy tropes, a strong but flawed female MC and a classic feeling setting, this is the book for you.
I recived an ARC copy of the book by the author in exchange for a honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Big thanks to the author for this enjoyable ARC!
3.5⭐
The first thing that stood out to me was our MFC, Sarah, she isn't your typical character you find; Sarah isn't feisty or headstrong but she is a real, relatable character who finds herself and strength through the story.
Furthermore, Sarah is a character who is neurodivergent which makes her more relatable to many readers out there. I really liked the author did this.
🔥🗡️
For me, the reason this book didn't quite hit 4 stars is because the build up to the main event was not fleshed out enough to my personal liking, it was too quick.
𝗕𝘂𝘁!
Everything before that was built up at a nice pace, introducing you to the characters, the world and various creatures.
I did like the slow growth of the romance with the 'will they, won't they' energy.
And what came to be after the main event was so good, I couldn't stop reading, it pulled on my heartstrings and it set up another level to the future books and thus, I am really looking forward to the next book!
3.5⭐
The first thing that stood out to me was our MFC, Sarah, she isn't your typical character you find; Sarah isn't feisty or headstrong but she is a real, relatable character who finds herself and strength through the story.
Furthermore, Sarah is a character who is neurodivergent which makes her more relatable to many readers out there. I really liked the author did this.
🔥🗡️
For me, the reason this book didn't quite hit 4 stars is because the build up to the main event was not fleshed out enough to my personal liking, it was too quick.
𝗕𝘂𝘁!
Everything before that was built up at a nice pace, introducing you to the characters, the world and various creatures.
I did like the slow growth of the romance with the 'will they, won't they' energy.
And what came to be after the main event was so good, I couldn't stop reading, it pulled on my heartstrings and it set up another level to the future books and thus, I am really looking forward to the next book!
January 14, 2026
A huge thank you to Donna Morgan for allowing me on this journey with you as an ARC reader.
In summary: A young woman, outcast from societal norms, embarks on a journey to save humanity. She must learn to control the power within and accept herself in order to close the gap which threatens to destroy life itself.
Ember & Steel was an utterly captivating first read of 2026. The finger tapping? Adversity to unknown food texture? Seeking her necklace for comfort? There’s something so unusual to feel so seen through a “normal” FMC facing the same social struggles as yourself. This was my first read where the struggles of day-to-day have been so well depicted in a fantasy novel through a neurodivergent FMC.
Aside from minor grammatical errors, which is to be expected in an ARC, this was truly fantastic. It was fast paced and engaging throughout.
In summary: A young woman, outcast from societal norms, embarks on a journey to save humanity. She must learn to control the power within and accept herself in order to close the gap which threatens to destroy life itself.
Ember & Steel was an utterly captivating first read of 2026. The finger tapping? Adversity to unknown food texture? Seeking her necklace for comfort? There’s something so unusual to feel so seen through a “normal” FMC facing the same social struggles as yourself. This was my first read where the struggles of day-to-day have been so well depicted in a fantasy novel through a neurodivergent FMC.
Aside from minor grammatical errors, which is to be expected in an ARC, this was truly fantastic. It was fast paced and engaging throughout.
March 12, 2026
This was such a beautifully written book!! I loved the FMC and the representation of neurodivergence, I was really able to relate to her character! Her character growth was absolutely amazing and you really felt like you were on the journey with her and I was rooting for her all the way!
The MMC was so loveable too! His character development was so well written and their relationship was so beautiful and I didn’t feel like it was rushed!
The side characters were also so loveable and especially Caz I loved his humour and wit! His and Tarans relationship was such a breath of fresh air!
The world building in this book was amazing and not too heavy! I could easily keep up and didn’t feel overwhelmed at any point!
I can’t wait for the next one!
The MMC was so loveable too! His character development was so well written and their relationship was so beautiful and I didn’t feel like it was rushed!
The side characters were also so loveable and especially Caz I loved his humour and wit! His and Tarans relationship was such a breath of fresh air!
The world building in this book was amazing and not too heavy! I could easily keep up and didn’t feel overwhelmed at any point!
I can’t wait for the next one!
May 13, 2026
A brilliant debut from Donna Morgan. The story is packed with twists and turns that keep you hooked from the very first chapter, constantly urging you to read just one more page. The author has a real talent for building tension and weaving surprises into the narrative without ever losing clarity or momentum.
The characters feel genuinely relatable—flawed, human, and easy to connect with—which makes every emotional beat, land that much harder.
Their relationships and motivations are crafted with care, adding layers to the plot and making the stakes feel real.
Overall, it’s an engaging read that balances mystery, emotion, and character development beautifully. A fantastic first book that leaves you excited to see what Donna Morgan writes next.
The characters feel genuinely relatable—flawed, human, and easy to connect with—which makes every emotional beat, land that much harder.
Their relationships and motivations are crafted with care, adding layers to the plot and making the stakes feel real.
Overall, it’s an engaging read that balances mystery, emotion, and character development beautifully. A fantastic first book that leaves you excited to see what Donna Morgan writes next.
January 24, 2026
This is a breath of fresh air for romantasy. The characters were so relatable and lovable. I was invested in each one. I have no idea why Sarah would’ve considered weird in her village because she is intelligent and quick witted. The character growth was phenomenal.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews