Book Review: From Blood & Ash

From Blood & Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Quote: 

"You would not like my answer, nor would you understand. Neither would I expect you to. Take this as a much-needed lesson, Penellaphe. Some truths do nothing but destroy and decay what they do not obliterate. Truths do not always sets one free. Only a fool who has spent their entire life being fed lies believes that."

Blurb: 

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 foiund unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel. 

Book Tropes: 

• Forbidden Love
• Bodyguard Romance
• Slow Burn
• Hidden Identity
• Chosen One
• Mythical Creatures
• Strong Female Protaganist
• Morally Grey Male Lead

My Personal Views:  

I actually have mixed feelings about this one. While the fantasy elements were quite well-written, the romance and pacing still left something to be desired.

From Blood and Ash is a high fantasy new adult book written by Jennifer L. Armentrout. The story follows Poppy- known to her people as the Maiden -in the kingdom of Solis. Hers is a life of solitude: no one can speak to her, no one can see her face, & no one can touch her. Yet she’s never been one to submit easily, not even to the gods. When her new guard, Hawke, enters her life, she must decide: will she fulfill her sacred duty, or follow her heart?

The novel had an engaging start. The beginning was well-crafted and pulled me in. The world-building was also interesting, though at times it dragged and led to moments of boredom.

The pacing overall felt quite slow. I suppose that’s understandable, considering the series is long and the author probably needed to stretch the material- but still, the sluggish pace made parts of the book feel tedious.

The main characters, Poppy and Hawke, were enjoyable to read about. While I didn’t fall for Hawke- which is a shocker since he is a fantasy book male lead, Poppy was definitely intriguing (as Hawke himself would say). Her bravery and fight scenes made her stand out.

As for the big twist- it didn’t come as a huge shock to me. I will admit, I already knew the spoiler. You can blame my need to know the story while I’m in the middle of the book- I just have to know everything beforehand -SUE ME!

The ending, though, didn’t sit well with me. It marked the greatest betrayal of Poppy’s life, and seeing how she reacted- especially what she chose to do afterward with the person who betrayed her (I am trying very hard to not give a spoiler)- made me like her a little less. I get the whole “biting” bit, but still, I feel the author should not have added those scenes that she did after the whole betrayal reveal. 

The book could have been a much stronger read if it had moved faster and trimmed a few scenes or subplots.

Overall, it was a decent read- not a huge fan of it, but didn’t dislike it either.

Ratings: ⭐⭐⭐.75/ 5

Until the next read,

Aditi