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No one is more surprised than Asher, one of the oldest vampires on Earth, that he's attracted to vamp hunter Jo Radcliffe. She's smart, a talented slayer, and she's gorgeous. Something about her pulls at him, like no one ever has before. For a man, whose name strikes fear in everyone—this is something new and intriguing. And quite possibly deadly, if she discovers his secret.

Jo has two things in common with the handsome Asher—they are both slayers and someone is messing with them in a very-much-trying-to-kill-them way. She's not so happy about joining forces with a dude she doesn't know. But he's sexy as hell and really good at his job as one of the Forgotten Brotherhood, whose business it is to execute misbehaving paranormals.

She knows she's bait in a larger plot to harm Asher and the Brotherhood. And there is nothing he won't do, no line he won't cross, to keep her safe—which may be the weakness that destroys them both.

Each book in the Fury Unleashed series is STANDALONE:
* Fury Unleashed
* Arctic Bite
* Burning Ash

332 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 18, 2020

116 people are currently reading
752 people want to read

About the author

N.J. Walters

167 books1,274 followers
Once upon a time N.J. had the idea that she would like to quit her job at the bookstore, sell everything she owned, leave her hometown, and write romance novels in a place where no one knew her. And she did. Two years later, she went back to the bookstore and her hometown and settled in for another seven years.

One day she gave notice at her job on a Friday morning. On Sunday afternoon, she received a tentative acceptance for her first erotic romance novel and life would never be the same.

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

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Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].
3,030 reviews25.3k followers
August 28, 2020
RATING 4.5 STARS

Burning Ash is book three in the Forgotten Brotherhood series by N.J. Walters. This can be read as a stand alone although the couple from the first book does appear in this one. There is also a small, unfinished element that carries on throughout the series. The covers of this series grab me every single time as did this one.

vampire hunter weapons - Google Search

Jo Radcliffe is twenty nine years old and is a vampire hunter. Driven by tragedy in her younger years, her life’s ambition is to eliminate vampires from the earth. An anonymous email sends her to a small church gathering with a hungry vampire. Only, she isn’t the only one who received that email.



Asher is a ten thousand year old vampire, thought of as a legend by many. Only he is real. He is more powerful than any vampire. He can walk in sunshine, eat human food, live undetected among humans. He is one of the Forgotten Brotherhood, a group of varying paranormals tasked with eliminating the worse of the worse. The beings that their own leaders can’t deal with. He is curious when he receives an untraceable email with information of a vampire with a bloodlust. Only once he gets there, it’s not the vampire that is holding his attention, it’s the beautiful hunter. And the only thing that keeps repeating in his brain is, “protect her.”

“For ten thousand years, the world had changed but he had remained the same. Until Jo.”

Someone went to a lot of trouble to bring Jo and Asher together. Is Jo just bait and Asher the real target? Is someone trying to dismantle the brotherhood? Or, is it Jo they want? Jo and Asher team up to try to figure out what is happening and the unlikeliest of bonds begins to form, the vampire and the hunter. They realize they both want the same thing, to eradicate the evil and protect the innocent. And they find something else neither ever hoped for, love.

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This was a sexy, steamy, suspenseful story that kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved that both of these two were tough but still just soft enough to make me feel all squishy at times. I loved that we got to see quite a bit of Maccus and Morrigan from the first book. I still adore them. And, we meet a new brother so that was exciting. This is such an amazing series and I’m excited to see what might come next.

“She was his miracle.”

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

Profile Image for Aisling Zena.
634 reviews521 followers
October 1, 2020
4.5 stars

Review now posted 27/9/20

I tried to read this closer to publication date so I can for once review and post it on time. And of course, real life decided to interfere and leave me with no down time to read it. It took me days to finish this. A whole week to be exact. I'm a relatively fast reader and not being able to read this when I wanted to frustrated me to no end which of course affected my enjoyment of this.

What I love about this series is the fact that everything goes. We got a fallen angel in the first one, a vampire bear shifter hybrid in the second, and for the third we got one of the very first vampires with some special abilities. With each book we get more and more worldbuilding and see more of the Powers at play. Though each of the books are standalones, I would suggest reading them in order as you get more a feel for the world, they are in.

Asher is one of the oldest vampires in the world, a member of the Forgotten Brotherhood and like his Brothers he is committed to the Brotherhood and only kills those who deserve it. An untraceable email catches his curiosity and when he shows up to the suggested place he watches in fascination as stunning woman with a crossbow confronts a vampire intent on a mass feeding. The female vampire hunter fights with expertise and grace and Asher becomes even more fascinated as he watches her.

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Jo Radcliffe is surprised to see a stranger come out of the shadows during her fight with the vamp. As a vampire hunter she makes a point of being aware of her surroundings at all times, it's a life or death matter. While she finds him attractive and compelling, she also believes him to be just another vampire hunter, and most of them are arrogant and controlling so she tries to brush him off and leave. But Asher isn't about to let this captivating woman leave him behind. And there's the matter of the untraceable email to solve.

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When Asher tells her, he was only there because of an anonymous email he couldn't trace and they find out that she also received one, it immediately rouses suspicions and Jo doesn't believe in coincidences. She allows him to catch a ride and they decide to stick together for the time being until they figure out what is going on. Asher uses the time to try to get closer to her, to get to know her and tries his hardest to get her to let him in her life. Jo resists him but her attraction to him and his efforts to protect her and take care of her, weakens her resolve.

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As events progress it's clear that Jo is continually being used as bait to weaken or destroy the Brotherhood. The question is who would mess with them. Who would have the audacity and the power to do so and can they take their enemy down?

I loved reading about these two building a relationship together and I loved even more that Maccus and Morrigan from the first book make more of an appearance in this one. I also cannot wait to read a book about the first Viking Werewolf, Bjorn! I'm a sucker for a good Alpha Werewolf. All in all, another great addition to the series and if N.J. Walters gives me a book for the Viking werewolf, I'll be happier than a kid let loose in a candy shop.


29/8/20

So NetGalley approved me for the first book, rejected me for the second one but approved me again for this one.. I don't think I'll ever make that site happy. Either way, glad I got an ARC for this one! Now I gotta read the previous one.

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**ARC kindly provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Natalie  ~ The Biblioholic.
2,713 reviews1,419 followers
September 21, 2020
Three books into the Forgotten Brotherhood series and N.J. Walters has once again proven why she is my new go-to author for paranormal romance! Her stories are full of danger, intrigue, suspense, supernatural creatures, and so much heart.

If he'd planned to hurt her, he'd had ample opportunity. And motive. She had tried to kill him. Twice. That hadn't even fazed him.


Plot: 5/5 - someone is out to hurt the members of the Brotherhood. One by one they've been set up and luckily enough came out somewhat unscathed, finding their soulmates in the process. When Asher receives an email to his personal inbox, a message he can't trace despite his immense talent at hacking, he has to check it out. All roads lead to Jo, who also got an untraceable email and the two band together to solve this mystery. Why were they drawn to each other? Who was working behind the scenes to target each of the assassins? With a malevolent presence haunting their every step, the hunt for answers was at times creepy, violent, vicious and entertaining. Asher and Jo should be enemies, but something sparks between them and not even the certainty of death can quash it.

Hero: 5/5 - Asher, a powerful vampire and member of the Brotherhood of supernatural assassins, has walked the Earth for ten thousand years and has carried out his duty, with the blessing of a goddess, with both humility and strength. His name strikes fear in even the fiercest of vamps and most believe him to be a legend, a boogeyman to put them in their place.

"No matter how strong or badass you think you are, there is always someone else bigger or badder."


Asher was everything great about this book. I loved learning more about this vamp I only heard mention of before. His history was heartbreaking and the humanity he grasped onto endeared him to me more. He was such a stunning male who was lethal, loyal, dedicated, protective, and extremely passionate. The many glimpses of his heart made him even more beautiful and he was definitely book boyfriend material.

Heroine: 3.5/5 - Jo was a survivor and she turned a horrific experience into a lifestyle. A vampire slayer, she was lured to Asher and despite knowing that she should hate him and everything he stands for, she can't help feeling like he's exactly who she didn't even know she was looking for. I didn't love this character, which bothered me because I've loved the heroines from the first two books, but I did like her well enough. I just couldn't really connect with her. Despite knowing what happened to turn her into a hunter, I didn't know how she found the skills and proficiency to do what she did. She was badass and I couldn't help but admire her for her courage and loyalty to Asher. She had his back and even when she was absolutely terrified, she didn't back down. How can you not respect that?

Jo was no shrinking violet. The hardships of her past had shaped her, honed her, turned her into a deadly fighting machine, a woman with a mission.


As a duo, these two were virtually unstoppable. The fact that Jo was human didn't stop them from taking on all comers and it was so exciting to read! Jo with her knives, sword and crossbow were a sight to imagine. Asher with his... everything ... yeah, they could do no wrong in my eyes. Seeing Maccus and Morrigan? BONUS!! We even meet another sexy and deadly Viking assassin, the father of werewolves, Bjorn. His backstory broke my heart into pieces. Will his book be next?

Find the full review & an excerpt here:
Profile Image for PamG.
1,295 reviews1,032 followers
October 1, 2020
BURNING ASH by N.J. Walters is the third book in the Forgotten Brotherhood paranormal romance series and the first book that I have read by this author. While this books starts out in Kentucky, most of it takes place in New York. The book worked as a standalone novel, but reading the first two books may provide some additional background on the Forgotten Brotherhood.

Asher, one of the oldest vampires on Earth, and Jo Radcliff, a vampire hunter end up at the same location in Kentucky. They are both strong protagonists and characters that you can root for. They definitely have flaws and virtues and their goals are clear and influence the plot. The storyline is engaging, suspenseful, occasionally humorous, and it includes some very intense scenes. I am not going to provide the details in order to avoid spoilers. Themes include good versus evil, secrets, attraction, vengeance, trust and much more. There are some steamy scenes in the book.

Overall, this is an enjoyable book that has relatable characters, intense scenes and a twist near the end that I did not see coming. If you enjoy paranormal romance with plenty of action and suspense and strong characters, then I recommend that you check out this series. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series as well as reading the first two. This was a solid 4 star read for me.

I won a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks go to Goodreads, Entangled Publishing and N.J. Walters for the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Profile Image for Mei.
1,897 reviews471 followers
November 3, 2020
First let me say that the cover doesn't have anything to do with Ash's description in the book!

Ash is described as blond and the guy on the cover has black hair!

And let's talk of the shades! OMG!!! Something that came out the '80!!! LOL

Ms. Walters, next time choose a better suited one!

As for the story I liked it much better than the last two books! Here the sex came later, even if lust was involved from the start! Much, much better!

Also the story was interesting and fast paced! With lot of action but with the right undestranding between the MCs! They talked! WOW! How novel!

Also, they didn't just discarded each other's thoughts and feeling. They kept some things secret, but the reasons why were logical and it didn't last too long.

I hope the next book will follow this way!
Profile Image for Claire.
2,324 reviews738 followers
September 17, 2020
4.5 - "I’m on to you…" Stars!

Another great addition to the Forgotten Brotherhood series, with book three giving us intriguing Vampire Asher’s story.

The vampire and the hunter-not exactly a storybook couple…

I loved the fact that the author paired him up with sassy vampire hunter Jo Radcliffe, opposites attract and all that, and even though Asher epitomises everything Jo believes to be wrong with the world, killing him is the last thing she wants to do, well most of the time anyways!

"Let me help you…"

I have to say that the cover for Burning Ash does not do Asher or the author’s description of him with his long blond hair justice. Which really is a huge shame, because the cover for Arctic Bite (the previous book in the series) as well as the hero in that book; Alexei Medvedev are two of my favourite things from my 2020 reading. The cover fits with its predecessors but it definitely doesn’t fit with the character it’s supposed to represent.

She’d been cold and alone for so very long…

Whinge over the cover aside though, I have to say N.J. nailed another storyline again,with plenty of intrigue and drama, going so far as including the Egyptian gods and goddesses this time. Plenty of sexy times, lots of banter, and I loved that Maccus and Morrigan (book one) played a part in this story, at points making me laugh due to Maccus’ ornery nature towards anyone but his woman.

"It’s not over…"

The introduction of Were-wolf shifter Bjorn also leaves the reader intrigued because you know there is definitely a story there and hopefully it will be forthcoming very soon. Another great read, and I cannot wait for more!

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
Profile Image for Marta Cox.
2,859 reviews210 followers
August 19, 2020
I'm really enjoying this series about powerful supernaturals who are the ultimate law bringers. Vampires have to play by the rules and if they don't it's Asher who is the bogeyman sent to dust them. He received an odd email and when he goes to check it out to his surprise he comes across a real life Buffy who he finds thoroughly entertaining and sexy or maybe that should be SEXY !
Jo is a Vampire slayer and has no compunction about taking as many out as she can. When Mr Tall, Blonde and Hunky helps her kill a murderous Vampire she just cannot seem to get rid of him ! Trouble is Jo isn't a hundred percent sure she really wants to but Asher is keeping secrets. Jo thinks he's human and things get a lot more complicated when they try to track who is sending the mysterious emails .
First I have to say I think this series has the most beautiful covers but Asher is blonde in my copy so the cover doesn't quite fit. That's no big deal ultimately just a slight niggle but nevertheless I am happy with my rating. This couple have such amazing chemistry and I was happily very surprised by just how funny Asher was. Having read the previous books its obvious that someone with a lot of power is playing games with the Forgotten and whilst there's a huge possibility in play in this book actually my money is on the other side but only time and more books will tell ! I'm left wondering if we just might get a Werewolf story soon but whatever the author dreams up I will certainly be keen to read it.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
Profile Image for Jennifer.
2,512 reviews86 followers
December 31, 2023
ARC received for review

Don't shoot me when I say this but vampires aren't my favorite to read about (and I've never read or seen the Twilight series). But Asher, I liked. He's perfect for Jo even if she's a vampire hunter. Lots of action, drama, intrigue, and hot sex. Maccus and Morrigan appear again to offer some help. Loved meeting that big Viking...fingers crossed that he's next to get a HEA.
Profile Image for Elodie’s Reading Corner.
2,554 reviews152 followers
September 14, 2020
Burning Ash
Forgotten Brotherhood Series #3
N. J. Walters
https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersA...
Release date 09/21/2020
Publisher Entangled Amara

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯

No one is more surprised than Asher, one of the oldest vampires on Earth, that he's attracted to vamp hunter Jo Radcliffe. She's smart, a talented slayer, and she's gorgeous. Something about her pulls at him, like no one ever has before. For a man, whose name strikes fear in everyone—this is something new and intriguing. And quite possibly deadly, if she discovers his secret.

Jo has two things in common with the handsome Asher—they are both slayers and someone is messing with them in a very-much-trying-to-kill-them way. She's not so happy about joining forces with a dude she doesn't know. But he's sexy as hell and really good at his job as one of the Forgotten Brotherhood, whose business it is to execute misbehaving paranormals.

She knows she's bait in a larger plot to harm Asher and the Brotherhood. And there is nothing he won't do, no line he won't cross, to keep her safe—which may be the weakness that destroys them both.

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

How can they work together when they are at each end of the ladder...

Oh my!
« Sigh! »
I just fell in love again, Asher is just ... Asher!
He is just perfect.
I haven’t read Maccus’ tale but it is easy to follow this one too.
But I am even more curious about him.

Asher and Jo are two sides of a coin, the hunter and the prey, the decoy and the target ...
Asher despite his long lived life and his loneliness is no bitter man, I loved how he often tries to liven and lift the mood/atmosphere by some jokes or witty repartees.
He is the bogeyman for all vampires when their council can solve a case, he is the one called to put an end to it. For milleniums, he hunted the vampires turned rogue, until he joined the brotherhood, to hunt the monsters at the top of the foodchain, a monster needs a monster to be put down.
Yet it is a lonely existence, but he accepted the weight of his mission as he was made to be thus.
Until he meets the one woman who awakens a feeling he thought buried with his human self.

Jo has been made a vampire hunter by a trauma from her past, since she never stopped to hunt them but also never once questioned her way. With Asher, she will have to reflect on herself, think about what she truly wants and where she wish to go. Retrospectively, she lives one day at a time, with no other prospect than her next mission. She is a survivor who lost her way and lives on the edges only driven by the revenge’s need.

Outside the mystery behind the emails and who’s behind them, it was fun to see them interact with the couple from the first book, from the icy Maccus to his cheerful significant half, and I am quite curious about the Viking Werewolf.

On a special note, all the covers of this series are awesome but it is a pity it does not match the hero’s description, he has long blond hair and is “pretty”!

A 5 stars for this fun and action packed tale with a swoon worthy hero.

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Entangled, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
Profile Image for Jenn.
666 reviews33 followers
September 17, 2020
The Forgotten Brotherhood are back! Yay! I've been waiting for the next in this series and now we have... Ash.

Asher, one of the oldest vampires on Earth, is sent a mysterious untraceable email about a young vampire on a rampage. And while he normally lets the Vampire Council take care of this sort of thing, he is intrigued by his inability to track down the sender of the email, something he would have previously thought impossible. When he arrives he finds baby vamp posing as none other than Vlad the Impaler (a poser because Asher, umm, took care of that... problem a few hundred years ago). He also finds an enchanting and deadly beauty that is more than capable of dispatching baby vamp, but even more striking, she is human. And while Ash would normally let everything play out without his aid, he finds himself instinctually wanting to protect this fierce little human.

The Brotherhood is under attack and whoever is behind it wants Ash and Jo together. Ash desperately wants to protect her but if this little vampire slayer finds out he's actually a vampire, will she stay? Who is behind these emails? Why is there a contract out on Jo's head? Who is the real target? And, why, oh why does he feel alive and young again when he's with her?

Burning Ash was fun, fast-paced, action-packed, and smexy. While I wouldn't say the chemistry was on fire, you did feel the attraction between the two. Plus, I'm just a huge sucker when it comes to paranormal romances with instant/fated attractions and long-lived immortals suddenly 'awakening' to primal instincts. Yeah, can't help it. Gets me every time.

The whole anonymous bad-guy reveal aspect was a bit underwhelming and the whole- I'm dating an immortal but I'm human- sitch resolution was a smidge Deus Ex Machina but not so contrived that it was completely out of left field.

All in all, I really enjoyed this latest in the Forgotten Brotherhood. There are still so many questions to be answered, like, who is behind the emails, plus, I am sooo down to find out more about our Werewolf Forgotten Brother. Ohhh, intrigue.

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.* 
Profile Image for Zoe Forward.
Author 36 books1,129 followers
September 25, 2020
Book three of the Forgotten Brotherhood is...awesome! I think this was my fav in the series thus far. Do you need to read any of the previous? Nope. This works on its own. Entirely enjoyed Asher, the eons old vampire as he falls for the vampire hunter, Jo. Spunky kickass heroine and a virtually invincible hero join forces to figure out who's behind the scenes bringing them together. There are steamy moments and some excellent heat between the characters.
This is a great read to get your PNR fix.
Profile Image for Lisa.
447 reviews24 followers
September 27, 2020
Asher all kinds of special
This book was so hard to put down. It is well-written, fast-paced and passionate.
Asher and jo what an amazing combo together
Fun, witty, sexy, truly loved this book this series has me wanting more from N J Walters.
I really hope next book is about the huge werewolf, Bjorn, and soon I need more from this amazing writer
!!!
This book is well worth the 5 stars
Profile Image for Lorrie (Clockworkbookworm).
1,780 reviews22 followers
October 6, 2020
I love the Forgotten Brotherhood! Powerful men, strong women and beautiful relationships. I have been waiting for Ash's story since book one and it was a fun read. A lot happened and there is a great deal to come. It was great seeing Morrigan and the stoic, but lethal Maccus. Bjorn should be the next to receive his story within the Forgotten Brotherhood. So looking forward to it.
Profile Image for Mary Kirkland.
770 reviews32 followers
September 23, 2020
This is the third book in the Forgotten Brotherhood series and after really loving the first two books I was excited to read this one.

Asher (Ash) gets an anonymous email telling him that a vampire is killing people and while he doesn't usually check these things out, he does this time. While he hides in the shadows watching the vampire, a hunter walks in and attacks the vampire. Asher isn't your average vampire since he's thousands of years old and very powerful. Things don't usually intrigue him after having lived so long but the female hunter sure grabbed his attention right away. Asher is a member of the Forgotten Brotherhood and he gets sent out to deal with paranormals that cause problems and break rules.

Jo is a vampire hunter and wants all of them eliminated. She got the same anonymous email that Ash did and that's how they met. Jo hates vampires but Asher tried to help her kill the vampire that was killing innocent people so they end up hanging out a little bit.

These two are polar opposites but little by little they realize that there's something between them. Ash doesn't understand why he feels such a pull to protect her but there's no fighting it or the attraction he feels for her. Jo doesn't realize right way that he's a vampire because he can walk in the sun for one thing and he eats regular human food. I wasn't sure that a vampire hunter and a vampire could have a strong relationship but once Jo realizes that they are fighting for the same thing, she let's her guard down a little.

Jo can kick as much bad guy butt as Ash and I loved how strong she is. We get to see some of the people from the first book which I loved. It's always nice to see how the people in the previous books are doing. There's a little bit of a twist and a little danger but Ash wasn't going to let anything happen to her if he could help it. I like that we get someone new in this book and I really hope we see more of him soon because he's intriguing. Once again I ended up loving another book in this series.

Disclosure: I was given an ARC of this book via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own
Profile Image for Emily.
5,866 reviews546 followers
September 22, 2020
Asher doesn't know why the email sent to him about a vampire attack put him in the pathway of Jo Radcliffe. The fascinating beauty is clearly a vampire hunter and is used to fending for herself, but Asher believes it is too coincidental that they both received emails to go to the same place. Deciding he needs more information he makes a deal with Jo to figure out who is behind the mysterious email but Jo has plans of her own which do not include Asher. Asher though fro the first time in centuries feels a pull to Jo that has him wanting to stay by her side. Could there be an enemy out there that he can't see and will Jo be a weakness he can't afford?

This was wonderful, Asher radiates alpha male but he is also a bit aloof which makes him very charismatic. Jo gives as good as she gets from Asher and while she is not sure of what Asher is she is intrigued. Trust is a difficult thing for Jo and having Asher in her life she wonders if she is making the best decisions. Action packed vampire story.
Profile Image for jessica.
2,685 reviews48k followers
October 14, 2020
again, i hate these covers, but this is another decent addition to the forgotten brotherhood series. i love when a series is a collection of independent stories set within the same world that can be read as standalones. this compliments the other two books nicely and effectively adds to the previous developments.

although these two new MCs are not my favourite, i really liked learning more about the vampires and enjoyed the world-building surrounding them. my only slight problem would be the major case of insta-love present. i get that lust and attraction can be immediate, and thats fine, but its a personal pet-peeve when characters are saying ‘i love you’ practically the day after meeting. its just a bit unbelievable for me, personally.

but this installment is fun and entertaining and the perfect scratch for my paranormal itch.

a massive thanks to entangled publishing for the ARC!!

3.5 stars
Profile Image for Rainelle.
2,195 reviews123 followers
September 8, 2020
I read the book. There are some areas of the book. I liked. Such as having a strong female warrior like Jo. Her character didn’t take crap from anyone.
She was written as character who wasn’t afraid of anything. She appeared smart and intelligent. Ashers character is ok too. He has the smarts and charm. Somethings from the book I found believing as it relates to the book, but I couldn’t relate to the dialogue/conversations.
This prohibited me from relating to the characters or the book. The conversations that took place was like a conversation between young adults. 25 Book Reviews
Profile Image for SexySiren24.
265 reviews28 followers
May 2, 2021
DNF at 22%
Ugh, there is nothing I hate most than dnf-ing two books in a row. It kinda gives you a guilty sort of feeling, am I the only one?
Anyway, this one is a weird one, because it’s not painfully awful or anything, just extremely mediocre/generic. I wasn’t like, utterly bored when reading it, but it also didn’t call to me, if you know what I mean. I never had the urge to pick it back up.

My issues:

-Generic world building that tries to emulate popular UF/PNR novels but doesn’t have any real depth.

-Flat, bland characters whose supposed personalities don’t match their actions/intelligence (Jo, a supposedly pro vampire hunter, can’t figure out the guy she’s with is actually undead).

-Insta love (Asher, a super old vamp who watches the Bachelor and talks like a 25-year-old, pretty much decides he’s gonna keep this woman forever, approximately twenty-four hours after meeting her. What’s so special about Jo? I’m sure you ran into other strong women in your long ass life).

-The actual mystery aspect wasn’t that bad, to be fair. I was mildly interested in who was behind it, but no enough to continue.

Not worth the money IMO. Burning Ash is pretty much the fanfic-icky version of better written novels within the genre. Go read Jeanine Frost, Ilona Andrews or Kim Harrison instead.

Profile Image for Kelsie Maxwell.
430 reviews86 followers
September 22, 2020
Burning Ash by N.J. Walters is book three in her Forgotten Brotherhood series. Though it’s part of a series, it reads as a standalone.

Relationships are hard. Just imagine how hard it is when one of you is a vampire hunter and the other is a vampire. That’s what Jo and Asher are facing, and that’s the easy part. The unknown forces manipulating things in the background are the real issue.

Burning Ash is very well-written addition to the Forgotten Brotherhood series. Worlds collide in the best way possible. We get two new interesting characters and sneak peeks at the current lives of previous personalities. If you like sexy male vampires or badass female vampire hunters, this is the book for you. I found this to be an exciting read and rate it 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to all readers of sci-fi/fantasy romance.

My thanks to Entangled Publishing, LLC and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
Profile Image for Speed.
994 reviews2 followers
September 5, 2020
What a fantastic read! Miss Walters is becoming a fan favorite of mine. The Forgotten Brotherhood series is absolutely phenomenal! In this book, we have Ash or Asher, a very old, very, very old vampire who also happens to be a slayer. He meets his match with the Jo, Jo is a knife-throwing, sword-wielding, badass fighting vampire hunter. She hunts down the bad vamps and kills them.
Ash and Jo, meet at an undisclosed location from an anonymous email, from that point on the action and suspense start. Filled with non-stop adventure, hot lovemaking, humor, past characters, and a new character, Bjorn, with moments of emotional connection, leads to a wonderful story. I totally fell in love with Asher and I think he is the best paranormal, the strongest paranormal being, that I've read about in a long, long, time. Everyone should read this book! It's awesome! I completely enjoyed every moment of this book! 5 WONDERFUL STUPENDOUS ASTONISHING BEAUTIFUL stars 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟

P.S. I really hope Bjorn's book is next. ❤❤❤

****I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book provided by NetGalley*****
Profile Image for MiraJane.
360 reviews5 followers
September 19, 2020
Not being a super big fan of the previous book in this series I still took a chance with Burning Ash. No regrets or anything, but I’m sad to say that this story just didn’t change my feelings on this series whatsoever.

The writing in Burning Ash had its ways of giving various and complex descriptions of characters, feelings and even places. However, I just couldn’t help but feel like this didn’t translate to the actual characters. For while they were described as brave, compassionate and any other adjective this didn’t really show in their personalities. To me they were too generic and lacking life along with differencing and distinctive characterization. The only one that to me actually stood out was Maccus, mainly for his grumpiness and reserved behavior. And he wasn’t even in the story that much, being that Jo and Asher were the main characters. Don’t get me wrong, they were okay as main characters for the most part, but they just weren’t relatable however much the story tried to make them out to be. As a matter of fact, this is where I found it the most unrealistic.

Jo was described as a human hunting vampires for a living, being brave, clever and because of her past relied on no one but herself. While this is an intriguing description of a character I did not find this intriguing woman in the book. Instead I found a woman constantly being rescued and dependent on Asher, claiming she had trust issues and can handle herself but contradicts this with her actions, or rather inactions. This along with how surprisingly little she actually knew about vampires made it difficult to believe she was a badass hunter who managed survived this long on her own with the job she had. Meanwhile Asher did not have much about him that stood out. Everything about him was about his complete love for Jo and not much else. Since the second he met her there was an insta-love and the rest of the story was him only thinking or acting out in regards of her. Even to a point that it actually bordered on obsession with him stalking her and breaking into her home. This understandably made me not that excited about the romance nor the plot, which brings me to the next issue.

If anyone asked me to explain the plot of this story I would have a hard time doing so. Because it felt more like the story was run by characters coming and going rather than having an actual plot. There was no clear cut planning or composition put into the story from what I could tell, but instead it was reliable on characters attacking/seeking out Jo and Asher, which brought the story further and further until the end where, surprise surprise, once again a “character” shows up solves the issue with the snap of her fingers without motive or explanation and then goes on her merry way. In short, instead of progressing the main characters and having them struggle to the end, the surroundings where what was progressing around them while Jo and Asher stood still, getting the job done for them.

Like I said in the beginning I do not regret reading this book. It was an okay read in that it did have some action, drama and some characters that I liked (Maccus for example). For me the bad just outweighed the good which you can probably tell from this review. I give Burning Ash three stars.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Merged review:

Not being a super big fan of the previous book in this series I still took a chance with Burning Ash. No regrets or anything, but I’m sad to say that this story just didn’t change my feelings on this series whatsoever.

The writing in Burning Ash had its ways of giving various and complex descriptions of characters, feelings and even places. However, I just couldn’t help but feel like this didn’t translate to the actual characters. For while they were described as brave, compassionate and any other adjective this didn’t really show in their personalities. To me they were too generic and lacking life along with differencing and distinctive characterization. The only one that to me actually stood out was Maccus, mainly for his grumpiness and reserved behavior. And he wasn’t even in the story that much, being that Jo and Asher were the main characters. Don’t get me wrong, they were okay as main characters for the most part, but they just weren’t relatable however much the story tried to make them out to be. As a matter of fact, this is where I found it the most unrealistic.

Jo was described as a human hunting vampires for a living, being brave, clever and because of her past relied on no one but herself. While this is an intriguing description of a character I did not find this intriguing woman in the book. Instead I found a woman constantly being rescued and dependent on Asher, claiming she had trust issues and can handle herself but contradicts this with her actions, or rather inactions. This along with how surprisingly little she actually knew about vampires made it difficult to believe she was a badass hunter who managed survived this long on her own with the job she had. Meanwhile Asher did not have much about him that stood out. Everything about him was about his complete love for Jo and not much else. Since the second he met her there was an insta-love and the rest of the story was him only thinking or acting out in regards of her. Even to a point that it actually bordered on obsession with him stalking her and breaking into her home. This understandably made me not that excited about the romance nor the plot, which brings me to the next issue.

If anyone asked me to explain the plot of this story I would have a hard time doing so. Because it felt more like the story was run by characters coming and going rather than having an actual plot. There was no clear cut planning or composition put into the story from what I could tell, but instead it was reliable on characters attacking/seeking out Jo and Asher, which brought the story further and further until the end where, surprise surprise, once again a “character” shows up solves the issue with the snap of her fingers without motive or explanation and then goes on her merry way. In short, instead of progressing the main characters and having them struggle to the end, the surroundings where what was progressing around them while Jo and Asher stood still, getting the job done for them.

Like I said in the beginning I do not regret reading this book. It was an okay read in that it did have some action, drama and some characters that I liked (Maccus for example). For me the bad just outweighed the good which you can probably tell from this review. I give Burning Ash three stars.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Maureen.
1,329 reviews50 followers
September 23, 2020
When I saw the sign up for ‘Burning Ash’ a little while ago, I knew I just had to read this book. Although this is a standalone paranormal romance novel, it’s also the third book in the Forgotten Brotherhood series and I loved the previous two books. So although you can definitely read this book as a first, I loved it even more because I knew the previous books.

In ‘Burning Ash’ we meet Asher, one of the oldest vampires around. As part of the brotherhood and as old as he is, he really stays by himself a lot. There isn’t a lot that sparks his interest anymore. But when he receives an mysterious email, luring him to a place filled with young vampires, he can’t resist to check it out. What he finds is Jo Radcliffe. Jo is a vampire hunter and a woman unlike Asher has ever seen. She is beautiful, but also tough and feisty and for as young as she is.. She seems to be all alone in life. And Asher feels an instant attraction to her. And a drive to keep her save above all else.

From the moment I started reading ‘Burning Ash’ I was hooked. This is just such a fun, sexy, romantic and thrilling series and it kept me interested right from the very first page. Asher and Jo are two very different characters, but they have an instant connection and although they have this major bump between them (vampire vs vampire hunter), you just know they are meant to be together.

Just as in the previous two books, things move rather fast in the romance part. But I for one didn’t have any problems with this. I loved the chemistry between Asher and Jo. And there where definitely some fun and sexy moments between these two.

My favorite character in this book is definitely Asher. Although I loved Jo too, especially since she is such a tough woman.. Asher was just so good. His character is ancient, but I loved to read how much he felt for Jo and how human he always seemed to be. My heart really ached for him and I loved his character just so much.

Thrilling wise this book also definitely kept you sitting on the edge of your seat. There is someone out there wanting to kill Jo, and to make trouble for the brotherhood and it was definitely thrilling to read. A lot is happening, and we also get to read a little about the characters from the first book. And we get a glimpse of someone we get to read about in another book perhaps?

‘Burning Ash’ was definitely a very fun read. I loved the paranormal aspects and just everything about it.
Profile Image for Julie - One Book More.
1,320 reviews236 followers
September 18, 2020
Jo is a vampire hunter whose main goal in life is to eradicate the world of vicious blood-suckers. Asher is an ancient vampire who is part of The Brotherhood, a group of supernaturals who live by a strict moral code and mete out justice only to those who deserve to die. One of the most dangerous men in the world, Asher never thought he would fall for someone. But there’s something about the fierce vampire-huntress that he can’t resist. Bound together by emails that have targeted both Jo and the Brotherhood, Asher and Jo work together to find out who is behind the attempts on Jo’s life.

The feelings between Jo and Asher are deep and passionate. I love that Asher is attracted to Jo’s strength and confidence. He likes how she handles herself in battle, and he’s amazed by her skill. Jo, in turn, appreciates Asher’s skill in combat and immense self-control. Neither ever let their guard down, and they are both slow to trust, which makes sense considering their pasts and their lives as hunters. It also makes for some sizzling chemistry! Jo and Asher are so drawn to each other, and their connection is strong and awesome to see grow.

The other characters in the book are interesting as well. I intend to go back and read the first two books in the series to learn more about Morrigan and Maccus, minor characters in this book who have lead roles in the first book, and as well as Alexei and other characters that have small appearances in Burning Ash.

Burning Ash is a great story for readers who enjoy paranormal romance with strong heroines, powerful alpha males, and a lot of action. Though it is the third book in the Forgotten Brotherhood series, it can easily be read as a standalone, as can the other books. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
97 reviews
August 31, 2020
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've been wanting to read about Asher since he was first introduced in book one of the series. He is one of the oldest vampires around and was surprised by his sense of humor. After receiving an anonymous tip, he ends up meeting vampire hunter Jo on her hunt.

Jo and Asher have great chemistry. Both are strong characters and are responsible for taking care of vampires (paranormals) who cross the line. While Asher is intense, he is also caring and it is sweet watching him try and take care of Jo at times. There are several cameos of a few characters from a previous book and we see a little more of another Brotherhood member who I am assuming the next book will be based off of. The ending was definitely a twist I was not expecting, which I always enjoy.

It was interesting to see where the vampires of NJ's world originated from and I thought it was a unique idea. I recommend this book. While you can read it alone, there may be a few small things you miss if you don't read the first and second book. I enjoyed book two and liked Alexei, but I do think that I liked this book more.
418 reviews
August 31, 2020
What I’ve enjoyed about the Forgotten Brotherhood books so far is that each has it’s own slightly unique feel as the world building for the series grows. These dangerous but sexy assassins tend to keep to themselves so the stories remain very focused but also allow for the true connection that they feel toward each other as members of the Forgotten Brotherhood and the building sense that something or someone(s) is quite possibly messing with them from the fringes. Ash and Jo’s story includes the twist, turns and surprises (as well as sexy heat) to keep you interested and turning pages. Ash is surprising laid back even while there is do doubt of his top predator status. Jo is tough but sensible even as she realizes there is a whole lot more to the supernatural world than the crazy vampires she’d been hunting. Together they make a good team as they work together to discover what hidden enemy or enemies are attempting to manipulate and endanger them and what more they can be to each other together. Definitely looking forward to the next book.

ARC courtesy of netgalley in exchange for a fair & honest review
Profile Image for Sissy's Romance Book Review .
8,992 reviews16 followers
October 3, 2020
Burning Ash by N.J. Walters is book Three in the Forgotten Brotherhood Series. This is the story of Asher 'Ash' and Jo. I have read the previous books which added to my enjoyment of this one. But, I did feel you could make it a standalone book if you wish to do so. Jo is a vampire hunter/killer who hates vampires of course. Jo is a strong women that doesn't take things the easy way. Asher is a vampire who is thousands of years old and is one of the leading members in the Forgotten Brotherhood that hunt down paranormal people doing bad. When he gets a email reporting a vampire that has gone to the bad side, Asher decides to look into. What he finds is Jo taken the vampire out herself. They end up finding that they have a mutual path in taken out evil vampires but more than that they both are receiving the emails alerting them to different jobs. This puts them to working together and building on their attraction. Loved this book and this author's writing. I would recommend both.

Profile Image for Karen Roma.
2,762 reviews33 followers
September 19, 2020
Burning Ash is the third book in N.J. Walters Forgotten Brotherhood series and if you haven’t read this author, what are you waiting for? Stunning covers are the first thing that draw attention, but the stories within are nothing less than exceptional. Ms Walters had a unique talent which transfers beautifully to her well-written storylines and the captivating and intriguing characters that are portrayed too. I can’t recommend this series highly enough, and if action-packed, thrilling and exceedingly sexy Vamps get your blood pumping; then this is definitely the story for you! I’m thoroughly hooked on this series and can’t wait for the next fast-paced, exciting instalment.
Profile Image for Lovely Loveday.
2,861 reviews
September 21, 2020
Burning Ash is the third book in the Forgotten Brotherhood series by N.J. Walters. While this is part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone novel. After reading Burning Ash, I plan to go back and read the other books in the  Forgotten Brotherhood series. I was pulled in from the first page and could not put this down until I finished! I had to know how it would end. 
Profile Image for Sonja.
990 reviews24 followers
September 21, 2020
First of all, this cover bugs me. Number one, It's irksome when the person on the cover does not have the same physical traits that the character it's about does. And number two, for some reason this dude reminds me of some Miami vice detective from decades ago with his slicked back hair and huge sunglasses. In other words, trying too hard to be cool. Fortunately, I knew what to expect going into this so it wasn't going to turn me off.

I went back and forth between 3 and 4 stars on this a lot as I was reading. I couldn't wait to get Asher's book when he made an appearance in Maccus's because I thought he'd be super fun to read about. And he was, so total 4 stars. What I didn't expect was for him to be such an emotional sap when he found his mate. I hate it when the over powered, brutal male becomes a love struck fool, so 3 stars. In the end, I went up because, duh, Maccus shows up quite a bit here and I love that guy.

I really liked how everything went down in this book because you can never really figure out who the bad guy setting everybody up really was. Even in the end, there's still a part of it that isn't figured out. We also meet some more vampires and there was one that I really ended up liking. Probably one of the most important and interesting parts of this book was learning all about Asher's past and what makes him more powerful than any other vampire in existence.

Everything starts when Asher gets an email from a source that he can't track about a place where a vampire is going to be killing humans. If nothing else, he goes to check it out simply because he's curious. While watching this ridiculous vampire go on about being Vlad, Asher's attention gets snagged by a mortal woman who also shows up. After a horrific event in Jo's past, she has dedicated her life to ridding the world of vampires. It just so happens that she also received the very same email that Asher did, only she won't wait in the shadows to strike.

Intrigued by this hunter, Asher pretends to also be one in order for the two of them to continue working together to try to find out why they were both sent there. Not long after, another mysterious email to both of them exposes Asher's to nature. And despite Jo's intense hatred for vampires, she still can't resist her attraction to Asher.

Basically what we get going forward is these two following any lead they can in order to figure out who keeps trying to throw them together, and who is out to kill Jo. Maccus and Morrigan make quite a few appearances and not by Maccus's choice. But boy did I love it when he was around. Gawd, that man's attitude and power is so damn hot! I also really respected Asher for keeping Maccus's secrets from Jo despite what it could cost him. Honestly though, she had no business acting like that about what Maccus was and Asher not telling her. Anyway. When they're not out chasing a lead or a suspicious email, these two get to know each other more and obviously fall for each other more. Which leads to those sappy moments of Asher's that had me rolling my eyes...a lot.

We get to meet another of the Brotherhood, Bjorn, when Asher is pretty much taunted into a trap and a contract gets posted for Jo's life on their own website. His appearance is abrupt, violent, and over rather quickly. But we learn of his own tragic past and I can't help but think his book will be next.

I'm not sure how I feel about the end. I was honestly surprised when we find out who at least one of the culprits was because I never even thought it possible. But we don't learn who actually set all of this in motion. And I'm on the fence about what happens with Jo. I mean, it's cool and all, but also kind of just makes it all too easy.


ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
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