The Road of Bones by Demi Winters: Book Review

Okay, let me start by saying that The Road of Bones completely took me by surprise — in the best way. I’d sampled this book three separate times and just couldn’t get into it. Something about the beginning didn’t quite hook me. I liked the writing style and the general vibe, but it didn’t pull me in enough to justify buying it at full price. And I really, really hate paying a lot for a book I end up not liking — whether it’s a physical copy or just sitting in my Kindle library, it annoys me to no end. So, I left it alone.

But then, recently, it was on sale for like $1.28. I figured, why not? Worst case, I could just delete it. No big deal. Reader, it was the best decision ever.

I ended up loving it so much that I’m now seriously considering buying physical copies of the whole series — maybe even special editions if they exist. That’s how good it was. The Road of Bones is officially one of my favorite fantasy books in recent memory.

Let’s talk about why.

The Writing

Demi Winters’ writing is just right. It’s the kind of writing that fades into the background in the best way — it doesn’t draw attention to itself but still paints a vivid, immersive world. You forget you’re reading words on a page because you’re so wrapped up in the world she’s created. That’s a rare thing. And I really appreciate it.

Now, I saw some people on Goodreads complaining about the dialogue? And I just… no. Absolutely not. The dialogue is perfect for the setting. This is a Viking-inspired, medieval-leaning fantasy world — we’re not here for snappy modern quips. The tone fits the story, the world, and the characters. Some readers have been so conditioned by recent romantasy releases (ahem, Fourth Wing) and their modern-sounding dialogue that anything more immersive or stylistic feels “off,” but trust me, this book’s voice fits like a glove.

The Structure

As a writer myself, I totally geek out over a well-constructed narrative, and The Road of Bones is so well put together. The POV work here is excellent — there are four intertwined perspectives, and each one has a clear purpose.

• Silla, the main character, gets the bulk of the narrative. She’s our lens into the world, and she’s one of the best female fantasy leads I’ve read in a while. More on her in a bit.
• Skraeda, who’s pursuing Silla, brings the tension. It’s terrifying to read that she’s  just a few steps behind, and you feel it. You feel her anger simmering, rising, getting closer. It’s stressful in the best way.
• Rey pops in occasionally, and while his chapters are more rare, they serve as a great counterbalance to Jonas. 
• And then there’s Jonas… oh, Jonas. We’ll get to him in the spoilery parts of the review.

Every POV is there for a reason. No filler. No unnecessary inner monologues just for the sake of it. Every chapter pushes something forward.

The Characters

Silla

I adored Silla. She is such a breath of fresh air in the romantasy genre. We’ve gotten so used to female leads who are basically swaggering action heroes—warrior princesses who fight, curse, and seduce their way through every page. Not Silla. She doesn’t want to fight. She doesn’t like violence. She just wanted chickens, for heaven’s sake.

And yet, she is anything but weak. Silla gets saved sometimes, sure. But she also saves herself constantly. She keeps going. She endures. That quiet strength? That’s real bravery. It’s not flashy. It’s not loud. But it’s powerful. I found myself rooting for her so hard because of that.

Now… Jonas (Reader Beware: Spoilers ahead)

Whew. Okay. So Jonas.

I know some readers liked him (and felt cheated when he ended up not being the main love interest). I… did not. At all.

Okay, fine, I did enjoy the first few of his POV chapters but as soon as the romance started, I started disliking him.

I saw the red flags immediately. Maybe I’ve got a sixth sense for this stuff (long story), but the second he started being violent for no good reason, I was out. And not in a “he’s morally grey and complicated” kind of way. In a “this man would 100% become her abuser” kind of way.

He’s the kind of person who flips out at small things, over this perceived disrespect (it’s a big thing with him). And I know, I know that we love a man who will defend his love interest, but this type of violence for someone bumping into her or something is too much. And you know it would have escalated to him abusing her if she showed him “disrespect”. 

It goes on — he tries to control who Silla talks to. He never helps her grow — he wants her dependent, helpless, and under his thumb. He never trains her or encourages her to get stronger. Why? Because it doesn’t serve him.

He gets angry at her for getting off the leaves because she did it without telling him or asking him for help — instead of being happy she’s healthier and better now. 

That’s not love. That’s not romance. That’s a huge walking red flag with a sword.

I don’t think his role was written as a red herring or just for drama. I think it’s meant to show how dangerous it can be to confuse intensity with love. He didn’t abuse Silla physically (yet), but you can see it in his mindset. He saw her as something that belonged to him. And that’s terrifying.

Plus, as a little side note, if you read Silla’s chapters, she never really liked him beyond finding him a great distraction from her grief. In his mind, he was ready to marry her. But Silla just wanted to have fun.

And Then There’s Rey

Rey, on the other hand, was complicated — but kind. Not nice, necessarily, but kind. There’s a difference. He tried to kill her a couple of times (small detail, fantasy life is messy), but he also trained her. He wanted her to be safe, even if that meant she didn’t need him.

Compare that to Jonas, who wanted her needy, not strong.

Ray’s actions spoke volumes. He respected her boundaries. He encouraged her growth. And even though nothing romantic actually happens between them in this book, their connection had way more emotional weight and potential than anything with Jonas ever did. I’m very excited to see where that goes in the next book.

The Bloodaxe Crew

Oh my god, I loved them. They were so much fun to read. And especially because we finally get some fleshed out, well-written female friends for our heroine. 

It’s depressingly rare in fantasy to see a female lead with actual, fleshed-out female friendships. So often, other women are just competition, set dressing, or sidekicks with no real personality. Not here. Silla’s friends are real characters with depth, history, and importance to the plot. I loved that so much. 

I’m a big fan of Hekla and her contrast of strength and that typical fantasy heroine warrior thing with femininity. And the fact that we have a character who uses sign language, and a character that is disabled is truly amazing. 

The World

Iseldur is alive. Every city, town, forest, and random roadside inn felt real to me. The worldbuilding is incredibly rich without being info-dumpy. Everything felt thought-through and fully formed. Every time I put the book down, I needed a few moments to re-adjust to real life. That’s how immersive it was.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that feels this populated. You can just picture people living their lives and existing in this world, which is not always the case with romantasy. Even in one of my recent favorites, The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy, I had a hard time picturing how regular people live. I had a hard time picturing that they even exist. 

But here, you can just feel people everywhere, and it’s great 

I can’t wait to dive back into this world in the sequel. I’m already itching to return.

The Pacing

Now, a heads-up: this book is slow to start. And it’s not super fast-paced in general. It takes its time, building tension and layering in plot elements gradually. Personally, I loved that. I like a story that simmers rather than explodes.

But if you’re expecting a quick, action-heavy, smut-filled romantasy, this probably isn’t the book for you. This is fantasy with romantic elements — not the other way around. The world and story come first, and the relationships are weaved in thoughtfully, not force-fed with spice and insta-lust. 

There’s a lot of focus on dealing with grief that’s complicated (she hates and loves her father at the same time), and addiction. A lot of it is about Silla’s development as a person and her growth, the found family she builds with the Bloodaxe Crew. 

Final Thoughts

The Road of Bones is not your typical romantasy. It’s smarter, subtler, and so much more emotionally layered than I expected. If you go in expecting a fast-paced, romance-first story with spicy scenes on every page, you might be disappointed. But if you want beautifully written fantasy with a compelling, unique heroine, rich worldbuilding, and a nuanced take on relationships, this book is so worth your time.

I’m incredibly glad I gave it a chance. And now I’m counting down the days until I read the next one.

About The Road of Bones

The Road of Bones by Demi Winters is a Viking-inspired romantic fantasy packed with emotional gut punches, slow-burn tension, and a whole lot of danger. It’s the first in The Ashen Series and yes, it’s multi-POV and written in third person limited..

Our main girl Silla is on the run after the queen orders her capture and her father is murdered, and she’s got one mission — survive the brutal thousand-mile Road of Bones and make it to Kopa where safety is waiting. Along the way, she hides in the supply wagon of the infamous Bloodaxe Crew and ends up travelling with them (after two death threats and much convincing). But there’s a murderer on the loose, an assassin after her, and she has secrets of her own to uncover.

Expect a moody, slow-burn romance, plenty of found family feels, and morally grey characters making terrible but understandable decisions. 

There’s also some heavy stuff, so heads up: the book deals with addiction, trauma, mental health, domestic abuse, violence, and some dark relationship dynamics. Definitely check content warnings before diving in.