Title: From Blood and Ash
Rating: 4 Stars
Published: March 29, 2020 by Blue Box Press
Series: Blood and Ash #1
Genre: Fantasy Romance, New Adult
Page Count: 622 pages
Format: Kindle / Audiobook
Goodreads: 4.21 (out of 5)
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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.
TROPE GUIDE: Enemies to Lovers | Forbidden Love | Forced Proximity | Secret Identity
Read the From Blood and Ash chapter-by-chapter summary here
My Review
This review of From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout may contain spoilers.
[Originally posted on December 19, 2024, with the chapter summary]
I’ve read From Blood and Ash four times, but I keep forgetting the details every single time. I guess that’s what I get for being a (recently reformed) serial skimmer.
On top of that, I’m also a serial rereader. I recently picked up this book again after rereading the first three books of the Flesh and Fire series to get to the final installment. After finishing Born of Blood and Ash, I felt like I had to relive this series all over again. This pretty much sums up my 2024 Reading Challenge: 18 out of 24 books are rereads.
When it comes to From Blood and Ash, the first few chapters were okay for me, but I found the first half pretty slow overall. I can see why many readers find it boring and have a hard time finishing it. However, it definitely picked up, and I enjoyed the second half enough to give it four stars—a rating that hasn’t changed since I first read it back in 2020.
The Slow Burn and Steamy Romance
Every book I read as an adult has to have some element of romance. I don’t care how small it is, as long as there’s some. This book delivers with a slow burn, steamy romance, complete with an enemies-to-lovers trope.
What I love the most is the sexual tension and chemistry between Poppy and Hawke. There’s this intense scene between them that I’ll probably (hopefully!) never forget. It’s one part I never skim, and reading that moment always gives me goosebumps.
The greatest surprise of all is that after reading Born of Blood and Ash and now this book, I find myself leaning slightly more toward Poppy and Hawke. Initially, I thought I was a bigger fan of Sera and Nyktos (the main characters from the Flesh and Fire series). I’m not quite sure why yet, but I’ll revisit this thought once the Blood and Ash series is complete.
The Kick-Ass Heroine
Poppy is my kind of heroine. She’s strong and knows how to kick ass. While I have nothing against damsels in distress, I prefer reading about a female lead who can save herself without needing the male lead to rescue her.
This brings to mind the times I’ve recommended paranormal and fantasy books to a friend. She always asked if the heroine was stronger than the hero, so I often struggled to find the right ones for her since most of what I read features “The Warrior” and “The Kick-ass” archetypes. Honestly, I don’t even mind if the heroine is a bit of a Mary Sue, which I know a lot of people don’t appreciate.
So, if my friend were to ask if I’d recommend this book to her, I’d probably say no. Actually, I’m pretty sure I already recommended it to her, but it didn’t go over well.
The World-Building
To be honest, I’m not the most critical reader, so I don’t get hung up on world-building unless it’s noticeably bad or absolutely amazing. In this case, the lore about the Ascended and the Atlantians was enough to intrigue me.
Ultimately, I’m pretty easy to please, and my enjoyment depends more on whether the book makes me feel things. From Blood and Ash did enough to get me excited about the rest of the series. Plus, I love Jennifer L. Armentrout, so she can do no wrong in my eyes.
Quote It or It Didn’t Happen: From Blood and Ash Quotes
“With my sword and with my life, I vow to keep you safe, Penellaphe,” he spoke, voice deep and smooth, reminding me of rich, decadent chocolate. “From this moment until the last moment, I am yours.”
“You’re such a bad influence,” I murmured as I placed my hand in his. Hawke curled his fingers around mine. The weight and warmth of his hand was a pleasant shock. “Only the bad can be influenced, Princess.”
“Promise me you won’t forget this, Poppy. That no matter what happens tomorrow, the next day, next week, you won’t forget this, forget that this was real.”
Are Poppy and Cas your next favorite book couple?
Let me know in the comments or on Goodreads.
If you haven’t read From Blood and Ash yet, don’t forget to add it to your TBR!