From Blood and Ash

Overall I was disappointed with this book considering the overwhelming reviews it’s received. The plot twists weren’t twisting. Unfortunately, I was able to predict the plot as early as the 20% through. The dialogue and inner dialogue throughout the story (especially as you near the end) also feels really repetitive. I started the second book but stopped 15% through. The next book just feels like a repetition of the dialogue and dynamics within this book.

I couldn't even finish this annoying book. My goodness...this book is just terrible. This is just another vampire and werewolf book just named different. I can not understand why so many people are falling in love with the main male character, he's creepy. This book just fell flat, it was supposed to be a "spicy" book, but to me I just found myself getting the ick. No thank you.

My girl Poppy is popping off! This book was such a fun ride, giving me a mix of mystery, action, and fantasy. I loved following along, and I know I’m going to take my time with this series just to fully soak in every moment. There’s so much potential for where this story could go, and I’m all in!

From Blood and Ash had so much promise: a fierce girl with a blade, a seductive, brooding immortal prince, and a dark fantasy world full of political intrigue and secrets. But what could have been a gripping, steamy epic instead got bogged down in repetitive inner monologues, a glacially paced first half, and a romance that asked me to suspend disbelief just a bit too much. I’ll give Jennifer L. Armentrout this: the lore is dense and detailed. Vampiric castes, culty kingdoms, and magical bloodlines. I actually enjoyed unraveling the hierarchy of Atlantians, Ascended, Craven, and Wolven. The problem? It takes over 300 pages for the story to do anything with all that setup. I could’ve skipped straight to page 313 and missed nothing of importance except Poppy’s self-indulgent thoughts and a dozen lectures disguised as dialogue. Poppy, our “Maiden,” was raised in isolation by a religious cult and spends the majority of the book ping-ponging between being a sheltered, naive narrator and a total badass with a dagger. The latter was great. The former? Painfully frustrating. I understood her confusion and repression, but wow, the girl’s curiosity rarely translated into actual intelligence. Still, I appreciated the subtle realism in how abuse, gaslighting, and captivity have shaped her. She’s learning, even if slowly. Now let’s talk Hawke. Or Casteel. Or “The Dark One.” Or Mr. Sex Scene Monologue. He’s a 200+ year old prince-turned-rogue who somehow falls for this cult-brainwashed teenager because she holds his hand a couple of times and says sassy things. Their chemistry was hot, I’ll admit. The sex scenes were the best part of the book; detailed, consensual, and actually sexy. Casteel talks her through pleasure, praises her fighting spirit, and treats her like an equal (once you ignore the kidnapping and marriage plans, minor details, right?). But the insta-love was a big eye-roll, especially considering his age, experience, and mission. There were some solid twists, but I called most of them chapters before they happened. Hawke being an Atlantian? Obvious. The Ascended lying about the gods? Called it. Poppy being half-Atlantian? I mean… come on. If this had been a tighter, better-paced 250-page book, it could’ve really landed. But slogging through Poppy’s repetitive veil-wearing monologues and everyone avoiding direct answers wore me out. I won’t be continuing the series, though I’ll miss Hawke whispering filth in the snow and praising Poppy’s stabby side. A man who admires your violence and talks you through an orgasm? Unmatched. But not enough to save the book for me.

I loved this book was a pretty decent read n I was hooked from the beginning and plan to read the next in the series and hope it lives up to the hype