[Skye’s Review]: From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

From Blood and Ash
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: From Blood and Ash #1
Pages: 622
Published by Blue Box Press
Release Date: March 31st 2020
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Source: Publisher
Format Read: ARC
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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.

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Ladies and gentlemen, Jennifer L. Armentrout has officially made her foray into high fantasy, and it’s as if she was always there. From Blood and Ash is classic Jen but on another level. It’s more mature, developed, mysterious, and swoon-worthy than any of her other books. Full of epic fight scenes, hilarious witty banter, heartfelt relationships, and moments that will steal your breath away. 

From Blood and Ash is JLA’s best book to date. There. I said it. It will only be topped by the upcoming sequel. 

First, let’s talk about the characters. Poppy, our heroine, is a spitfire. This girl is fierce, and I love it. She’s determined to enjoy her life despite all of the limitations of being the Maiden. Since she’s not allowed to do a lot, Poppy sneaks out of the castle and does what she wants. Some might think her wreckless or rebellious, I find it natural. Poppy’s character arc is by far one of my favorite things about this book. She comes so far from where we meet her in the beginning of the book. 

Next up, we have Hawke. Hawke is a new guard with a phenomenal reputation. He’s known for being an amazing swordsman. Before Poppy knows it, the handsome guard is promoted to being one of her personal guards. Let’s be real, Poppy never stood a chance against Hawke. I never stood a chance against him—no one stands a chance. He’s everything you want in a love interest: witty, intelligent, resourceful, respectful, protective, and handsome. Wow. What a guy, right? 

World-building. This is where JLA enters new terrain. She’s never had to come up with her own world before. Usually, her books take place on Earth, and she introduces a paranormal species or something of the like. In this book, she creates her own world. And boy, does she do it. We learn about the religion of this world, their enemies, their traditions, their social customs, and more. My favorite part, of course, is the part of their enemies. This is my favorite part because their enemies, the Atlantians, are said to control creatures called the Craven that kill humans. If one of these creatures bites a human, the human will turn into a Craven themselves. The Atlantians are also known for having wolvens. Yeah, wolvens. Not much is known about them, but all I can think (and hope for) is werewolves.

I absolutely love how this book ended. From Blood and Ash is full of twists and turns. JLA loves to pack in a punch. While I predicted one of the twists, I didn’t predict the others. I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2–also, can I have book 2 now? Please? I NEED it.

If you couldn’t tell, I immensely enjoyed this book, which means you have to read it. Yes, I said have to; it’s not an option. Read it and join me in the agonizing wait for book 2.