Honest Book Review of Kingdom of Claw
Author: Demi Winters
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Demi Winters’ Kingdom of Claw, the sequel to The Road of Bones, immerses readers in a Viking-inspired world rich with Norse mythology. This sequel was certainly heart pounding and kept me at the edge of my seat at the very end. The narrative continues to follow sisters Silla and Saga as they navigate personal and political challenges in the kingdom of Íseldur.
If you’re following this series, make sure you continue on to the third book, Dawn of the North, where the story becomes even more intense and the stakes rise higher than ever.
Now, I am usually not the one who points out trigger warnings in books. But I would say that this has a lot of them in this story. Death of parent, torture, attempt in suicide and also drug addiction. Also there are snakes. That’s a personal phobia for me. The List goes on. So I would recommend finding and reading them before picking up this book. So you are better prepared or decide that this may not be the book for you.
Silla, reeling from recent betrayals and revelations about her identity, finds herself fleeing Kopa alongside Reynir, the dark and broody leader of the Bloodaxe Crew. Their forced proximity unveils hidden truths and deepens their complex relationship. This is truly the sweetest romance that I came across in a fantasy romance in a while. It wasn’t a insta lust and lets leap into bed sort of romance. It was building trust, intimacy through friendship and it was just sweet. IT GAVE ME THE FEELS.
Meanwhile, Saga remains at court, subtly working to dismantle Queen Signe’s plans. Her interactions with a perceptive Zagadkian dignitary add layers of intrigue and tension to the plot. The POV of Saga adds an extra layer to the danger that is happening in this world. I am really loving her character.
As the story goes on, the story gets deeper and more dangerous in the plot. I was literally rooting for anything happy to happen in this story. But it felt like our main characters kept getting one set back after another and it felt so disheartening. You got to love a story that makes you feel that way about any book.
The only thing I really struggled in this book was probably the 25-45% mark. Silla is going through training and a lot of self pity. It slightly came across as plot filler and just dragged the story. But to my surprise, my opinion changed as I was reading. Demi Winters has a skill of writing such in-depth characters that actually feel their demons that they are struggling with. Then you see them working through it with courage to overcome it. Sometimes, in fantasy books, FMC are portrayed as these strong and fierce characters that almost shows that they have no weaknesses. Silla and Saga do. It was beautiful. It made me appreciate them more even though they have huge flaws.
Additionally, I love the dual narratives of Silla and Saga which offered a comprehensive view of the unfolding events. At first I wasn’t 100% on board with Saga’s POV because she is a new character introduced to the storyline. But Demi Winters writing, the Queen of Writing In-Depth Characters, had me falling in love with her as well as Silla.
Despite these VERY minor critiques, Kingdom of Claw is a captivating continuation of The Ashen series. Winters’ storytelling prowess shines through, delivering a tale that balances romance, political intrigue, and fantastic fantasy elements. Fans of the first installment will find this sequel both satisfying and thought-provoking, leaving them eager for the next chapter in Silla and Saga’s journey.
Thank you Demi Winters and Delacorte Press for giving me a copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
