Series: The Emberfall Trilogy #1 Published by Amazon Digital Services LLC - Kdp on June 14, 2026
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Reading Challenges: All booksLong ago, dragons were unleashed as weapons of mass destruction, igniting a war that shattered the Empire of Kaldra. Now, the survivors of that once-great realm cower behind fortified walls, while the beasts terrorize the wilds between the broken kingdoms.
Arowyn Vale survives as an ashwalker-one of the few reckless enough to brave the burned-out roads between the walled cities, smuggling everything from supplies to secrets. But when she reluctantly saves a dying dragon hatchling on a routine run, she draws the eye of the ruler of Mouren, a brutal realm directly in the heart of dragon territory.
Once upon a time, King Reave Callahan's people wielded powerful magic, bonding with dragons in order to crush their enemies with wing and flame. But now, that magic is fading, and law decrees that anyone who manages to bond with a dragon must serve the Mouren crown-even a gutter-born, half-feral ashwalker from the slums of an enemy kingdom.
Dragged into Reave's glittering but cutthroat court, Arowyn must navigate a treacherous new life built upon secrets, ancient magic, and shifting alliances. As her connection to the hatchling deepens-and with the Mouren king watching her with a gaze full of both danger and desire-she will have to make a decision:
To become a weapon of the kingdom that broke her world...
Or to burn it all down from within.
Ashwalker by S.M. Gaither Book Review | Dragons, Smugglers, and One Absolutely Addictive Fantasy
Some books politely invite you into their world.
Ashwalker grabbed me by the shirt, handed me a baby dragon, and basically said, “Good luck surviving.”
From the very first chapters, I knew I was in trouble—in the best possible way. S.M. Gaither has created the kind of fantasy world that feels huge without ever becoming overwhelming. Every chapter revealed another secret, another danger, or another reason to stay up way later than I should have.
Arowyn is exactly the kind of main character I love reading about. She’s tough because life forced her to be, but she never loses the heart that makes you root for her. Watching her get pulled into political schemes, ancient magic, and a war much bigger than herself kept me completely invested.
And then there are the dragons.
Look…if you put dragons in a book, you’ve already got my attention. Give me a rare dragon hatchling, dangerous journeys, smugglers, ruthless rulers, and plenty of tension, and I’m canceling my real-world responsibilities for the day. The bond between Arowyn and the hatchling became one of my favorite parts of the story, adding both heart and high stakes to an already fantastic adventure.
The romance was another pleasant surprise. It never overshadowed the larger story, but every interaction carried just enough chemistry to keep me grinning whenever those characters shared the page. I appreciated that it developed alongside the political intrigue and action instead of replacing them.
What impressed me most was how balanced everything felt. There are exciting battles, plenty of twists, emotional moments, fascinating world-building, and characters whose motivations feel believable. Every time I thought I knew where the story was heading, something shifted just enough to keep me hooked.
If you’re looking for a fantasy packed with dragons, layered world-building, dangerous politics, memorable characters, and enough emotional tension to make “just one more chapter” a complete lie, Ashwalker absolutely deserves a spot on your reading list.
Now, excuse me while I impatiently wait for the next book because S.M. Gaither has officially reminded me why dragon fantasy is one of my favorite places to escape.
About S.M. Gaither
As a kid, S.M. Gaither spent way too much time playing video games like Final Fantasy and reading every book she could get her hands on instead of doing silly things like her assigned homework. As an adult…Well, not much has changed. Her goal is to write books that distract others from their life’s obligations, too, thus creating an army of fellow procrastinators over which she can reign supreme. These days, her personal favorite places to procrastinate are in the mountains near her North Carolina home, in the company of her husband, their daughter, and their very spoiled dog
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