Book Review: Road of Bones by Demi Winters
Road of Bones by Demi Winters
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Published: November 5, 2024
Series: The Ashen #1
Genres: Adult // Fantasy, Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Open Door, not many explicit details)
Quick Thoughts: I picked up Road of Bones by Demi Winters after seeing it on Book of the Month. It's been compared to some of my favorite series like ACOTAR, and while I don't think that comparison quite fits, this Viking-inspired romantasy absolutely delivered in its own right with it’s unique backdrop, slow-burn romance, found family, and strong character development.
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Substance Abuse
Abuse between love interests
Death and Grief
Blood and Violence
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Viking-inspired settings
Hidden/Secret Identities
Betrayals
Found Family
Forced Proximity
Forbidden Romance/Secret Relationship
Dual POV
What is Road of Bones About? (Spoiler Free Summary)
A woman on the run. A crew of Viking mercenaries. A forbidden romance. And the secret which threatens them all.
Silla Nordvig is running for her life.
The queen of Íseldur has sent warriors to bring Silla to Sunnavík, where death awaits her. When her father is killed, his last words set Silla on a perilous quest: travel the treacherous Road of Bones–a thousand-mile stretch haunted by warbands, creatures of darkness, and a mysterious murderer–and go to Kopa, where a shield-house awaits her.
After barely surviving the first stretch of road, a desperate Silla sneaks into a supply wagon belonging to the notorious Bloodaxe Crew. To make it to Kopa, she must win over Axe Eyes, the brooding leader of the Crew, while avoiding the Wolf, his distractingly handsome right-hand man. But the queen’s ruthless assassin has other plans and hunts Silla obsessively.
Will Silla make it safely to Kopa? Or will she fall prey to the perils of the Road of Bones?
Featuring an immersive world blending fairy tale with Vikings, The Road of Bones leads you on an adrenaline-fueled chase with fun banter and a slow-building enemies to lovers romance. The first book in the Ashen Series, you are one click away from reading it!
Pre-Read Thoughts
I picked up Road of Bones by Demi Winters after seeing it on Book of the Month. It's been compared to some of my favorite series like ACOTAR, and while I don't think that comparison quite fits, this Viking-inspired romantasy absolutely delivered in its own right.
Road of Bones Review
Road of Bones follows Silla Nordvig as she flees across the dangerous Road of Bones—a thousand-mile stretch filled with creatures, warbands, and relentless assassins—after the Queen of Íseldur orders her capture and her father is murdered. Her mission is simple: make it to Kopa, where safety awaits.
Silla’s Character Arc
What really worked for me was Silla's journey throughout the book. Her character development focuses on internal growth rather than just physical strength, which I always find more rewarding. She's soft and vulnerable, not your typical romantasy FMC. Throughout the story, she navigates addiction and figures out who she is beyond what her father has told her all her life. Watching Silla's character grow and her beliefs evolve felt authentic and had me genuinely rooting for her.
Setting & Worldbuilding
This was my first book set in a Nordic or Viking-inspired world, and I loved it. The author blends Norse mythology with her own worldbuilding to create a setting that felt fresh without being confusing or hard to follow for readers unfamiliar with the mythology. The constant danger of the Road of Bones made the growing bond between Silla and the Bloodaxe Crew feel earned and real. Each member of the crew had their own personality and backstory, which added real depth to the story. The multi-POV structure worked well too, giving us insight into characters like Rey (the brooding crew leader) and even the assassin hunting Silla.
That said, I do wish we'd gotten more extensive worldbuilding, particularly around the magic system. It felt underexplored given the length of the book, and I'm hoping we dive deeper into it in the sequel.
Romance
I loved that the romance is a true slow burn and doesn't overwhelm the plot. The fantasy and romance were balanced beautifully—both strong enough to stand on their own. The romantic tension is definitely there, but it never overshadows other important elements like Silla's personal journey or the overarching plot.
So, should you read Road of Bones?
If you're looking for a Viking romantasy with genuine character development, immersive worldbuilding, and a true slow-burn romance, Road of Bones is absolutely worth picking up. I'm already looking forward to seeing where this series goes next!
Check out this review on Goodreads or Storygraph.
Happy reading!
Kim
Road of Bones FAQs
Some of the answers may be spoilers if you haven’t read it already. Proceed with caution!
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The Road of Bones is the first book in Demi Winters' The Ashen series, which is planned to have a total of five main novels, along with one novella. As of late 2025, two books and a novella have been published: The Road of Bones, Kingdom of Claw, and Roots of Darkness featuring Hekla’s story.
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The third installment of The Ashen series, Dawn of the North, will come out on February 3, 2026.
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Yes, Romance.io readers rate Road of Bones 3 🌶️, which is Open Door. While readers are present for spice scenes, the descriptions and writing don’t go into a lot of detail.
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The spicy chapters in Road of Bones are 38 and 48, with chapter 48 being a fade to black scene.