Roots of Darkness Audiobook By Demi Winters cover art

Roots of Darkness

An Ashen Series Standalone

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Roots of Darkness

By: Demi Winters
Narrated by: Islay Jacobs
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Join Hekla and the remnants of the Bloodaxe Crew as they battle the evil, poisonous mist threatening the citizens of Istré—and perhaps all of Íseldur—in a novella following the events of Kingdom of Claw.

Traveling the Road of Bones was only the start of Hekla's troubles.

The Bloodaxe Crew has arrived at the village of Istré—beleaguered and missing three of their members. They might be down in numbers, but Hekla "Rib Smasher" is determined that they'll complete their job all the same: defeat the monstrous, sentient mist and keep the citizens of Istré safe. What she didn't expect was for Istré's bullheaded chieftain to block her every move.

Exasperated, Hekla throws caution to the wind for a single passion-filled night. But to her horror, the mysterious red-cloaked warrior to whom she's spilled her deepest secrets is the Bloodaxe Crew's new temporary leader and ally—Eyvind Hakonsson.

Hekla must now learn to play by Eyvind's rules while guarding her heart. But when it becomes clear that his plans align with the chieftain's, Hekla takes matters into her own hands.

Nothing will stop her from keeping the innocent people of Istré safe—not even the man who haunts her thoughts.

Contains mature content. A complete list of content warnings can be found on the author's website.

©2025 Demi Winters (P)2026 Podium Audio
Action & Adventure Fantasy Historical Historical Fiction Heartfelt
Engaging Side Quest • Character Development • Fast-paced Plot • Emotional Depth • Intriguing World-building

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This is how you write a novella!!! Such an amazing book wow. This series is the best one ever.

YESSS

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This book follows Hekla (also known as Rib Smasher) of the BloodAxe Crew, and I absolutely loved getting to dive deeper into one of my favorite characters of the crew!!

It was so compelling to read more of her storyline, her struggles, her romantic tensions and dynamics, and the battles she facing while separated from Ray.

I truly felt for her on a deep level, felt for her feminine rage, her strength, and her resilience, especially considering everything she’s had to endure throughout her journey.

This was such a great and refreshing read, and the perfect bridge before heading into book three!

Rib Smasher’s Story Did Not Disappoint!

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Roots of Darkness is a powerful reminder of why Demi Winters is one of my Roman Empire authors. Hekla is the embodiment of female empowerment, fierce, unapologetic, and impossible not to admire. Listening to this glimpse into what she and the Bloodaxe Crew have been up to felt like coming home, and it only reinforced how brilliantly Demi writes powerful women and gives them the space they deserve to exist, lead, and take up room in the story. The narrator of the story does an incredible job bringing all of that to life. The themes of grief and loss are especially impactful in this format. Hearing the weight of what the crew has lost does a brilliant job with showing the character’s vulnerability at the loss of one of their own. The push and pull between her and Eyvind is immaculate on audio and stands true to the core of who Hekla is. As always, Demi writes incredible scenes filled with passion and intimacy that reach your soul and the audio performance amplifies that emotional depth beautifully. While this novella technically stands alone, it absolutely should be listened to within the series. Experiencing it out of order would rob you of the emotional punch and honestly, you’d be spoiling it for yourself. The impact comes from knowing these characters, their history, and everything they’ve already endured. And let’s talk about the animal familiar for a second because I am a complete sucker for them, and the squirrel, Krikta, stole every single scene it was in. A must-listen for fans of the series and another shining example of Demi Winters’ ability to write strength, loyalty, and found family with heart and intention.

A novella that embodies female empowerment

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This is a beautifully written story. I like this book the most of all the books in this series.

Excellent

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the use of cliff hangers and miscommunication in the romantic plot were tiresome and predictable. the overall plot and underlying storyline were very good! the narration was great

Great performance

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