Flames And Ashes

Flames and Ashes by Jessica Krueger was a really good read that gave me dragons, Fallen angels, ancient artifacts, supernatural politics, and a mystery involving secrets that have been buried for a very long time. Add a stubborn heroine with a talent for getting herself into dangerous situations and a dragon who has his own ideas about how things should be handled, and I was pretty much guaranteed to be interested. I especially enjoyed that there was an actual story unfolding beyond the romance, with plenty of history and unanswered questions to keep me turning the pages.

One of my favorite things about this book was the mythology surrounding the Fallen and the dragons. Jessica has created a supernatural world with its own history, rules, relationships, and conflicts, and I enjoyed learning how everything connected. The ancient codices, artifacts, and Soulmating mythology were particularly interesting because they gave the story a sense of history that extended well beyond the main characters. I liked that the supernatural elements weren’t simply there to make the romance more interesting. They were an important part of the larger mystery, and I wanted to know more about the secrets being uncovered.

Thea was easily one of my favorite characters. She’s intelligent, stubborn, reckless, and has a sense of humor that I really enjoyed. She’s also the kind of woman who apparently considers exploring dangerous places in search of ancient artifacts a perfectly reasonable way to spend her time. I liked her adventurous nature and determination, but what made her interesting to me was everything she was carrying beneath that personality. Thea has experienced tremendous loss, and although she tries to keep moving forward, it’s clear that she hasn’t really allowed herself to heal.

I appreciated that Jessica didn’t treat Thea’s grief and trauma as something that could simply disappear once a potential love interest entered the picture. Her experiences affect how she sees herself, how she responds to other people, and whether she’s willing to let herself feel certain things again. There were moments when I wanted her to stop blaming herself and recognize that she deserved to have a life beyond what she’d lost. At the same time, I understood why that wasn’t easy for her. I thought her emotional struggles gave the story more depth, particularly because her healing involved more than simply finding someone who cared about her.

Then there’s Ma’lak, also known as Guardian, who I thought was a good match for Thea’s personality. He’s protective, responsible, and accustomed to being in control, which makes dealing with someone as independent and unpredictable as Thea especially entertaining. I enjoyed the contrast between his attempts to approach situations rationally and the instincts of his dragon, which aren’t always interested in cooperating. Ma’lak has his own history and responsibilities to deal with, and I liked that he wasn’t simply there to follow Thea around and protect her from whatever trouble she managed to find.

Their relationship was another part of the book I enjoyed. There’s definitely attraction between them, but I appreciated that Jessica gave their connection time to develop beyond the physical side of things. Thea isn’t someone who can simply set aside her past and jump into a relationship without hesitation, and Ma’lak has his own reasons for being cautious. The Soulmating mythology adds another interesting element, particularly when it comes to the difference between what their instincts might want and what they’re emotionally prepared to accept. I liked that their relationship had to work through those complications rather than relying entirely on supernatural attraction.

I also enjoyed the way the romance connected to Thea’s personal journey. There are intimate scenes, but I never felt like the story had been pushed aside just to make room for spice. Physical closeness is complicated for Thea because of what she’s experienced, and I appreciated that her feelings and boundaries were part of how the relationship developed. The intimacy felt more meaningful because it was connected to her willingness to trust, become vulnerable, and consider the possibility of being happy again.

The adventure and mystery were what initially pulled me into the book. I loved the exploration of ancient locations, the search for artifacts, and the questions surrounding the history of the Fallen and dragons. There’s also an interesting political side to the supernatural world, with different responsibilities, loyalties, and interests influencing the characters’ decisions. Those elements gave me plenty to think about, and I enjoyed trying to figure out how the pieces of the larger mystery might fit together.

Where the book lost a little momentum for me was in the middle. The beginning had a good balance of adventure, mystery, and character development, but the pacing slowed as more attention shifted toward Thea’s recovery and her developing relationship with Ma’lak. I understood why those scenes were important, especially considering everything Thea had been through, and I wouldn’t have wanted her healing rushed. However, I would have liked the central mystery to remain a little more present during those chapters. There were times when I found myself wanting to get back to the ancient artifacts and unanswered questions that had originally drawn me into the story.

I also felt that some of Ma’lak’s internal struggles became repetitive. His protective instincts, his attraction to Thea, and the ongoing conflict between his own judgment and his dragon’s desires were all important parts of his character. After a while, though, I felt those feelings had already been established, and a few of the repeated internal discussions didn’t add much that was new. Tightening those sections would have helped the story move along more smoothly without taking anything away from their relationship.

Another thing I noticed was that the book could benefit from an additional proofreading and consistency pass. There were some errors and inconsistencies that caught my attention while reading. They weren’t frequent or distracting enough to ruin the story for me, but they were noticeable, and I think another careful edit would help give the finished book a little more polish.

Those issues weren’t enough to ruin my overall reading experience, but they were annoying enough to pull me out of the story at times. I was genuinely enjoying the characters, the mythology, and the mystery, so it was frustrating when the pacing slowed or I found myself reading through things I felt had already been established. A little more tightening and another careful proofreading pass would have made a noticeable difference for me, and ultimately, those were the things that kept this from being a five-star read.

Even with those issues, I genuinely enjoyed Flames and Ashes. Thea was a character I could get invested in, and I liked that her strength didn’t mean she was unaffected by everything she’d survived. Ma’lak was an interesting love interest, particularly with the added complication of his dragon, and their relationship had an emotional foundation that made me care about more than just their attraction. The mythology was probably the biggest highlight for me, though. I loved the idea of an ancient history connecting these supernatural beings, and I found myself wanting to learn more about the world Jessica created.

My Verdict: Would I Recommend Flames and Ashes?

Absolutely! If you enjoy paranormal romance with dragons, Fallen angels, Soulmates, ancient artifacts, hidden histories, supernatural politics, strong heroines, protective love interests, and a good mystery woven into the romance, I definitely recommend giving Flames and Ashes a read. I think readers who enjoy emotional character development alongside their supernatural adventures will find plenty to appreciate here.

I would also recommend checking the content warnings beforehand, particularly if you’re sensitive to themes involving grief, trauma, loss, and violence.

For me, Flames and Ashes was a solid four-star read. I loved the mythology, the mystery, and Thea’s emotional journey, and I enjoyed watching her relationship with Ma’lak develop. The slower pacing through the middle, some repetitive internal struggles, and the proofreading issues were what held it back from five stars. With a little tightening and another editing pass, I think this could have been an even stronger story. I’m definitely interested in seeing where Jessica Krueger takes this supernatural world next, especially with so much history still waiting to be explored.

⭐ 4/5 Stars

–SASSY

NOTE: this review reflects the digital ARC version provided to me as of August 23, 2026, and may not reflect any revisions, corrections, or updates made to subsequent editions.