
Roots of Darkness
The Ashen Series; Book 2.5
Random House Publishing Group · Print & ebook · January 6, 2026
Join Hekla and the remnants of the Bloodaxe Crew as they battle the evil, poisonous mist threatening the citizens of Istré—and perhaps all of Íseldur—in a novella following the events of Kingdom of Claw.
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- Who it’s for
- A hard-edged fantasy romance pairs a deadly threat with a dangerous attraction.
- Genres
- Fantasy Romance, Dark Fantasy
- Published
- Random House Publishing Group, January 6, 2026
Nearest books
Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved. Most of these share its genre: Fantasy Romance.
Dawn of the NorthDemi Winters74% match
Kingdom of ClawDemi Winters80% match
The Road of BonesDemi Winters77% match
Silver & BloodJessie Mihalik59% match
Heir of IllusionMadeline Taylor61% match
Warrior Princess AssassinBrigid Kemmerer, Teddy Hamilton55% match
The Sins of SilasKylie Snow54% match
The Songbird & the Heart of StoneCarissa Broadbent55% match
For younger readers: Dark Tides, Inheritance of Scars, The Last Namsara
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Start with this bookAbout this book
Join Hekla and the remnants of the Bloodaxe Crew as they battle the evil, poisonous mist threatening the citizens of Istré—and perhaps all of Íseldur—in a novella following the events of Kingdom of Claw. Traveling the Road of Bones was only the start of Hekla’s troubles. The Bloodaxe Crew have arrived at the village of Istré—beleaguered and missing three of their members.
Continue reading
They might be down in numbers, but Hekla “Rib Smasher” is determined they’ll complete their job all the same: defeat the monstrous, sentient mist and keep the citizens of Istré safe. What she didn’t expect is for Istré’s bullheaded chieftain to block her every move. Exasperated, Hekla throws caution to the wind for a single passion-filled night. But to her horror, the mysterious red-cloaked warrior to whom she’s spilled her deepest secrets is the Bloodaxe Crew’s new temporary leader and ally—Eyvind Hakonsson. Hekla must now learn to play by Eyvind’s rules while guarding her heart. But when it becomes clear that his plans align with the chieftain’s, Hekla takes matters into her own hands. Nothing will stop her from keeping the innocent people of Istré safe—not even the man who haunts her thoughts.
Danger and Desire
A hard-edged fantasy romance pairs a deadly threat with a dangerous attraction.
Come here for
- A stubborn heroine facing a sentient, poisonous mist
- Tension between duty, clashing plans, and guarded hearts
Expect
- Action and romance in a novella following Kingdom of Claw
- A determined fight to protect Istré’s citizens
Where it sits
| Fantasy Romance | 52% |
|---|---|
| Dark Fantasy | 24% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Fantasy Romance
- Viking Romance
- Authors
- Demi Winters
- Publisher
- Random House Publishing Group
- Published
- January 6, 2026
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Reading lane
- Fantasy Romance