A Heart of Blood and Ashes - (A Gathering of Dragons) by Milla Vane (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A generation past, the western realms were embroiled in endless war. Then the Destroyer came. From the blood and ashes he left behind, a tenuous alliance rose between the barbarian riders of Parsathe and the walled kingdoms of the south. That alliance is all that stands against the return of an ancient evil--until the barbarian king and queen are slain in an act of bloody betrayal.

Though forbidden by the alliance council to kill the corrupt king responsible for his parents' murders, Maddek vows to avenge them, even if it costs him the Parsathean crown. But when he learns it was the king's daughter who lured his parents to their deaths, the barbarian warrior is determined to make her pay.

Yet the woman Maddek captures is not what he expected. Though the last in a line of legendary warrior-queens, Yvenne is small and weak, and the sharpest weapons she wields are her mind and her tongue. Even more surprising is the marriage she proposes to unite them in their goals and to claim their thrones--because her desire for vengeance against her father burns even hotter than his own...

Review Quotes

"Dark, brutal, bloody--and incredibly compelling, with brilliant worldbuilding and a romance that gripped my emotions. Milla Vane has created something extraordinary in this story of kings and war, gods and vengeance."--New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh

"An engrossing, epic story of warriors, gods, leaders and lovers...The characters walk through the pages with heart, soul and courage, and are matched by Vane's equally stellar world building, which weaves seamlessly with thrilling action scenes."--BookPage (starred review)

"[A] richly imagined dark fantasy world."--Publishers Weekly

"This stalemate between vengeance and love permeates their every interaction, which Vane fearlessly explores through masterful plotting and characterization. Imaginative worldbuilding and compelling political intrigue add depth and complexity to their passionate and wildly romantic love affair. A showstopper."--Kirkus Reviews

"A Heart of Blood and Ashes is an engrossing tale of barbarity and treachery, of devotion and loyalty, and ultimately of love. Milla Vane knocks it out of the park with the savagely delightful A Heart of Blood and Ashes. Now I find myself desperate to get my hands on the next book in the series."--Fresh Fiction

"Worldbuilding with depth and complexity, wonderfully fleshed out characters, and packed with brutal fight scenes and heart rending emotion...A Heart of Blood and Ashes is epic fantasy romance at its finest."--Smexy Books

"This book is a lusciously brutal foray into romantic fantasy, with a love story that burns so hot, you might singe your fingers while reading it... With A Heart of Blood and Ashes, Milla Vane has crowned herself as the new queen of the genre."--The Alliterates

"A gorgeous imaginative book which is brimming with amazing details and colour...It is harsh, unrelenting, dark, and violent, with a lush romance at its heart."--The Book Pushers

"Dark, brutal, bloody-with splendid worldbuilding, one is taken from the stressful, mundane reality into a world that will have you not stopping until the last page."--I Smell Sheep

"Vivid action scenes pair with harrowing emotional vulnerability to launch a new, addictive series."--Amazon Book Review

About the Author

Under a pen name, Milla Vane is also an award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of steampunk and paranormal romance. Milla currently resides in Oregon.