From Blood and Ash
Blood and Ash #1
By Jennifer L. Armentrout
*Read after the Flesh and Fire series (the prequel series to Blood and Ash)*
TheStory
Poppy has spent her entire life sequestered, preparing for the day of her Ascension, a mysterious event meant to “bring peace” to the kingdom. But Poppy is not an ordinary, isolated woman. She has the ability to feel others’ emotions as well as take them away. In addition she has trained in secret for years learning how to wield weapons and defend herself.
During a secret outing, Poppy meets Hawke Flynn and immediately has an intimate moment with him that is interrupted by one of Hawke’s companions. Poppy promises to wait for him but immediately dips out when he departs. The two are later reunited when Hawke becomes her new personal guard. Her isolated and restrictive life is upended when Hawke and Poppy quickly take up a forbidden romance, putting her life’s purpose in jeopardy and challenging everything Poppy has been brought up to believe.
As the kingdom is bombarded with political unrest and the looming threat of violence lurking around every turn, a fallen kingdom is rising - the Atlantians - led by the so-called “Dark One.” Beings called the Craven are attacking the kingdom in droves.
When Poppy is requested at the Capital, Hawke and a group of royal guards escort her on the journey, where Hawke and Poppy’s relationship takes a spicy turn. As a result, Poppy realizes that she does want the destiny laid out for her.
At a “pit stop” at a town called New Haven, things become increasingly suspicious until Poppy comes to discoveries that ultimately confirm that she has been lied to for her entire life and nothing is what it seems.
TheReview
First and foremost, this book was an absolute could-not-put-down read. I was legitimately concerned that Poppy and Hawke would be too similar to Nyktos and Sera from the Flesh and Fire series. While there are minor undeniable similarities, they are extremely different. It was fully its own story, and (in my opinion) a much better one.
The way that Poppy and Hawke’s relationship developed was fun and wildly entertaining. It had so many of the tropes I love - forced proximity, only one horse, etc. And it was funny! It made me actually laugh out loud, especially in the beginning.
So, I was extremely underwhelmed with JLA’s writing in the Flesh and Fire series. I didn’t even want to read this one because I was just not a fan of her writing after that series. That being said, the writing in this book SLAYS. Absolutely SLAYS. JLA wrote her characters and this story in such a way that I actually felt like I was experiencing the story alongside the characters. Far, far, far better than the Flesh and Fire series.
The two big bombs dropped at the end, I actually guessed way before even the foreshadowing to them happened (*clap clap*). So it is a little predictable but that did not take away from my enjoyment at all. I was thrilled when my suspicions proved correct because it was the BEST way the story could go. Yay me!
10/10 highly recommend. I definitely thought the Flesh and Fire series was way overhyped but not this one. This one was not overhyped at all.
TheRating
Storyline: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 3/5
Spice: 2/5
Writing: 4/5
Overall: 5/5
Blood and Ash Series
From Blood and Ash
Blood and Ash #1
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
Blood and Ash #2
The Crown of Gilded Bones
Blood and Ash #3
The War of Two Queens
Blood and Ash #4
A Soul of Ash and Blood
Blood and Ash #5
The Primal of Blood and Bone
Blood and Ash #6