Review: From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Okay, I LOVED this book. Like, I read this 600 page tome in a single day. I read it back in December and I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to review it! I have always been a huge fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer so I love any kind of book that gives me that level of humanity and fun amidst a fantasy world I know nothing about. From Blood and Ash has excellent world building that doesn’t leave you scratching your head but I still didn’t see any of the plot twists coming. Also this book is sexy. In the most professional of ways I’m just going to say…Hawke Flynn can get it.
Synopsis: “A Maiden…Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.
A Duty…The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden.
A Kingdom…Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe is theirs through violence and vengeance. And as the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel.” —From the publisher
What I Liked:
The World Building—I found this fantasy to be incredibly digestible. I told a friend while reading it that it feels like the world unfolded seamlessly with the character development so you learned about the world while becoming incredibly invested in the characters. It was just so good and I didn’t feel confused or overwhelmed at all.
The Romance—I’ve learned that the type of fantasy I love centers mostly around romance. I think I find it to be really grounding in an unfamiliar world because there is nothing more universal than love. So this romance…holy guacamole. It was SO GOOD! I loved that Poppy wasn’t rail thin or “beautiful” according to society’s standards and how Hawke spoke to her with such respect and desire. And the steamy moments were just * chef’s kiss * perfection. It’s a good old slow burn and the pay off is outstanding.
Poppy—I loved Poppy as a main character. I loved that she was independent and strong without falling into the “not like other girls” stereotype that we see a lot in fantasy. She was a delight to walk with on this journey.
The Characters—Overall, I was a HUGE fan of the characters in this book. Hawke, Victor, I’m a fan of them all.
What Didn’t Work:
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say…for me? Nothing. I think this is a fantastic, readable, enjoyable fantasy.
TW/CW: attempted suicide, attempted sexual assault, physical abuse
Character Authenticity: 5/5 Steam Rating: 4/5 Overall Rating: 5.5