House of Ash and Shadow

Content levels

Trigger warnings

Positive tags

Hero archetypes

Heroine archetypes

Protagonist archetypes

Tropes

Themes

Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Fallon Bane was born with a devastating curse- a single touch from another person will cause her excruciating pain. Thus, she has accepted that she will die without ever being kissed, without even hugging her own father, though it breaks her heart every day. But when her beloved father falls ill, she breaks into the magical Gilded City to find a healer fae that can save him. When handsome healer Ariyon Madden agrees to help, everything she knows about herself and her curse changes. Because during her father's healing, Ariyon reaches out and touches her bare skin. She waits for the agony... but it never comes. For the first time in her life, she imagines a new future for herself. However, that fantasy is quickly destroyed, because not only does Ariyon flee from her in disgust when he learns of her curse; he also reveals her existence to powerful fae who want to hurt her. Fallon is then swept away to a magical academy, where she learns the terrifying truth about her family history and her dark magic. Her life and the future of fae everywhere hang in the balance, and all the while Fallon can't help but wonder if she will get to touch Ariyon Madden one more time before she dies... This enchanting story of family, fae, and yearning is perfect for readers who love- Romantic fantasy books for teens Unputdownable & bingeworthy novels Magical boarding schools Grumpy sunshine romance Holly Black and Sarah J. Maas

Is House of Ash and Shadow appropriate for my child?

Suitable for most readers 13 and up.

A YA romantasy featuring a cursed heroine who can't touch others without pain. Contains mild fantasy violence, yearning romance with minimal physical intimacy, and themes of isolation and acceptance.

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