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Child of Ash Heir of Fire: Book 2 of Leifthasir's Sag: A Norse Fantasy Epic of Political Marriage, Court Intrigue, and the Cost of a Crown
Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26573 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 15, 2026
About the author
H.F. Day
4 books9 followersH.F. Day is an author and illustrator of myth-rich fantasy grounded in the Viking Age. Her debut novel, A Tale of Scorched Ash and Elm, braids the intimacy of family drama with the sweep of legend, drawing closely from the Eddas and Sagas. A lifelong student of Norse history and material culture, H.F. Day cares about getting the small things right: ships and seasonal light, law and longhouses, so the big things feel true. She has traveled widely and credits her inspiration to favorite locations such as Ireland, Spain, Romania, and the Rockies for shaping her eye.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book completely pulled me into its world. From the very beginning, I was intrigued by Indunna and the impossible position she was forced into. Being married off for political reasons and expected to simply accept her place in a world designed for men made her journey especially powerful to read.
What I loved most was watching Indunna grow into her strength. She isn't simply handed power—she has to fight for it, survive the expectations placed on her, and prove that she is capable of becoming the ruler everyone underestimated. Her character development felt earned and made me root for her throughout the story.
Janis was equally fascinating. The relationship between him and Indunna is complicated, emotional, and beautifully layered. Their marriage begins as a political arrangement, but watching their relationship evolve while they navigate loyalty, power, sacrifice, and feelings made their story one of my favourite parts.
The political intrigue, court tension, war, grief, and emotional manipulation kept me invested, while the romance added another layer of vulnerability to an already intense story. There were definitely moments that were difficult to read, but they suited the darker themes of the story and helped make the characters' struggles feel real.
I also really appreciated that Indunna's story isn't about waiting for someone to give her power. It's about her discovering that she has the right to claim it herself.
As an ARC reader, I found this to be an engaging and emotionally intense read with strong characters, complicated relationships, and plenty of political tension. If you enjoy historical-inspired fantasy, arranged marriages, political intrigue, slow-burn romance, strong female characters, and stories where power comes at a price, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What I loved most was watching Indunna grow into her strength. She isn't simply handed power—she has to fight for it, survive the expectations placed on her, and prove that she is capable of becoming the ruler everyone underestimated. Her character development felt earned and made me root for her throughout the story.
Janis was equally fascinating. The relationship between him and Indunna is complicated, emotional, and beautifully layered. Their marriage begins as a political arrangement, but watching their relationship evolve while they navigate loyalty, power, sacrifice, and feelings made their story one of my favourite parts.
The political intrigue, court tension, war, grief, and emotional manipulation kept me invested, while the romance added another layer of vulnerability to an already intense story. There were definitely moments that were difficult to read, but they suited the darker themes of the story and helped make the characters' struggles feel real.
I also really appreciated that Indunna's story isn't about waiting for someone to give her power. It's about her discovering that she has the right to claim it herself.
As an ARC reader, I found this to be an engaging and emotionally intense read with strong characters, complicated relationships, and plenty of political tension. If you enjoy historical-inspired fantasy, arranged marriages, political intrigue, slow-burn romance, strong female characters, and stories where power comes at a price, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Child of Ash Heir of Fire by H. F. Day is an absolutely immersive Nordic inspired high fantasy adventure that delivers on every level. Once again, Day does not disappoint, this world feels vast, vivid, and alive, filled with compelling characters, dangerous political maneuvering, and places I could picture so clearly.
Indunna is easily one of the strongest female main characters I have encountered in a long time. Watching her rise to power was fascinating, and at times her journey reminded me of Catherine the Great: a woman forced to navigate a world designed to restrict her, yet determined to claim authority within it. She is intelligent, resilient, strategic, and impossible not to root for.
One aspect I especially loved was the way Day explored the duality of women’s roles in this society. Women are often treated as subservient, traded like currency, and denied overt power. Yet the novel never portrays them as powerless. Instead, it shows how they use their intelligence, observation, relationships, and political instincts to influence the men who believe they control everything. That tension made the story feel layered and thought-provoking rather than simply another fantasy adventure.
The level of immersion was incredible. Every person, place, and conflict felt purposeful, giving the world a depth that pulled me in from the beginning. Child of Ash, Heir of Fire is an epic, character-driven story about power, survival, and the many forms strength can take.
A solid 5 star read for fans of richly imagined high fantasy, Nordic inspired settings, and formidable female protagonists.
Indunna is easily one of the strongest female main characters I have encountered in a long time. Watching her rise to power was fascinating, and at times her journey reminded me of Catherine the Great: a woman forced to navigate a world designed to restrict her, yet determined to claim authority within it. She is intelligent, resilient, strategic, and impossible not to root for.
One aspect I especially loved was the way Day explored the duality of women’s roles in this society. Women are often treated as subservient, traded like currency, and denied overt power. Yet the novel never portrays them as powerless. Instead, it shows how they use their intelligence, observation, relationships, and political instincts to influence the men who believe they control everything. That tension made the story feel layered and thought-provoking rather than simply another fantasy adventure.
The level of immersion was incredible. Every person, place, and conflict felt purposeful, giving the world a depth that pulled me in from the beginning. Child of Ash, Heir of Fire is an epic, character-driven story about power, survival, and the many forms strength can take.
A solid 5 star read for fans of richly imagined high fantasy, Nordic inspired settings, and formidable female protagonists.
Review of advance copy received from Author
H.F. Day is my new auto-buy author. Child of Ash Heir of Fire is a Viking-inspired dark fantasy novel that explores political marriages, infertility, infidelity, and the reality of war. This book shows us complex characters who are trying to find their place in a world that wants to force them into little boxes.
The character development in this book is *chef’s kiss*. Watching Janis grow from a boy to a man and seeing Indunna grow into an unstoppable woman was powerful, and I quickly fell in love with Day’s characters. She did just as well with the characters who I disliked the whole book through. Day has a way of writing very steamy Vikes and sexual tension you could cut with a seax.
From the beginning, I was drawn into the world of Leifthasir, and I couldn’t put this book down. I had to know how the next political scheme, viking battle, or romantic scene would play out. Child of Ash Heir of Fire made me feel the full spectrum of emotions, and as one who has experienced infertility herself, I appreciated the way Indunna’s experience was portrayed.
I’m still thinking about Leifthasir and the characters I grew to love along the way. I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next book. Thank you, H.F. Day, for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
The character development in this book is *chef’s kiss*. Watching Janis grow from a boy to a man and seeing Indunna grow into an unstoppable woman was powerful, and I quickly fell in love with Day’s characters. She did just as well with the characters who I disliked the whole book through. Day has a way of writing very steamy Vikes and sexual tension you could cut with a seax.
From the beginning, I was drawn into the world of Leifthasir, and I couldn’t put this book down. I had to know how the next political scheme, viking battle, or romantic scene would play out. Child of Ash Heir of Fire made me feel the full spectrum of emotions, and as one who has experienced infertility herself, I appreciated the way Indunna’s experience was portrayed.
I’m still thinking about Leifthasir and the characters I grew to love along the way. I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next book. Thank you, H.F. Day, for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Child of Ash Heir of Fire consumed me for a whirlwind of days. The story is engaging, the plot enraging, and the characters compelling. The world feels immersive without being inaccessible to new readers. The romance is complicated and raw.
My only complaint is that the ending felt jumbled—we heard from all our POV characters but nothing felt like closure. Nothing truly felt wrapped up, even if some things were resolved. I’m hoping that the next installment of this saga follows these characters and allows us to see the growth they’ve experienced and the change they’ve manifested. I’m not done with them, and I sure hope H. F. Day isn’t either.
My only complaint is that the ending felt jumbled—we heard from all our POV characters but nothing felt like closure. Nothing truly felt wrapped up, even if some things were resolved. I’m hoping that the next installment of this saga follows these characters and allows us to see the growth they’ve experienced and the change they’ve manifested. I’m not done with them, and I sure hope H. F. Day isn’t either.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The story was awesome, however there were some things that I think could have been left out. I, myself, kept thinking it was in multiple POVs, but it did not give the headings for it and I think that is why I couldn't truly enjoy it like I wanted to.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews