From Blood and Ash

Ashley Chandler

FANTASY ROMANCE WITH A CAPITAL R

"Books like FROM BLOOD AND ASH are the reason I became a reader: complex, well-developed characters, immersive world building, scenes so vivid you can see them in your mind, and dialogue full of wit and banter that a smile is plastered across your face from page 1 to page 487. And the romance -- SWOON. I'm so glad I have the second book *immediately* available to me because I don't think I'm ready for the book hangover that will emerge when I leave this world. I'm new to Jennifer L. Armentrout and I feel *deprived* that I've gone 27 years of my life without her writing. I will be immediately reading everything she has ever written and thank the gods she has a long backlist. What an honor it is to find an author like this and to know that she speaks to your soul with her writing. Okay to the review: Poppy is The Maiden, which basically means her life (and mostly her purity) must be protected at all costs. While she is covenanted as the most important person in her society, it often feels quite the opposite because of the boundaries placed upon her. As part of her protection, she is assigned personal security. Enter Hawke Flynn: a sexy, foreign guard who quickly works his way up the ranks to earn the spot of Poppy's personal guard. Unbeknownst to Hawke, he and Poppy have actually met once before when Poppy, whose face is always hidden behind a veil, snuck out one night to "live a little." Poppy is simultaneously terrified of Hawke realizing her identity and absolutely enthralled by this man who is unapologetically himself and seems to want the same from her. Every time Poppy tries to fight her instincts, Hawke is there to remind her that there is nothing wrong with desiring a life filled of joy, freedom, and pleasure. Poppy can't quite figure Hawke out, but there is one thing she is sure of: with Hawke, she always has a choice. The question is: which choice is the right one? Poppy is one of my favorite heroines of any romance or fantasy novel I've read in a long time. She is independent and headstrong, observant and intelligent. She knows what is expected of her but never loses sight of what she wants from life. Despite so many forces trying to deprive her of experiencing life, she does not break. She is the heroine we all need in 2020. And Hawke? DO NOT GET ME STARTED. I love an honorable man but more than that: I love a man who is attracted to a woman's strength; one who does not cower when a woman is stronger, braver, and fiercer than him. With each passing page, Hawke is further surprised, in the most delicious of ways, by Poppy's actions. The banter between Hawke and Poppy is unmatched: an excellent combination of sexual tension, tender moments, and passionate declarations. It is everything. And this leads me to the romance: 10/10. It's the "high stakes will they, won't they" FOR ME. This is how you do a slow burn. I promise you, you will not be disappointed. Plot wise: I absolutely loved how this world unfolded before our eyes. Rather than a giant world dump at the beginning, Jennifer L. Armentrout slowly introduces this world to us through Poppy's eyes. I personally find this much more fulfilling because you're constantly building the world as the plot starts to unfold; it makes for a better reveal and more satisfying twists. Highly recommend. ["

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December 9, 2020 Verified Purchase

Elizabeth Trent

10/5 STARS. ALL THE STARS. LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE STAR.

"It has taken me months to write an actual review for this book because I was so overwhelmed with FANGIRL feels that I could not form an articulate sentence about the countless ways this book is everything I ever wanted and didn't know I needed. Hang on to your hats ladies and gents because I am OBSESSED. Like, unhealthy obsessed. Like, have mentioned this book on company calls. Like, have forced four other people to read and it will never be enough. Things I Loved: - Starts with a BANG like hello 0 to 60 in five second flat *pants* - Poppy is such a well-balanced MC, she's a stunning combination of badass, inquisitive, and vulnerable - While we meet our love interest in the first few chapters, the story goes on without him for a bit so we get a good understanding of who Poppy is on her own - Hawke (that's it, that's that bullet) - Sweet friendship between Poppy and Tawny - Loved learning things as Poppy does (even though it was frustrating at times to not fully understand some of the world-building in the moment) - Hawke is a sexy lil feminist and I love him - ALL. THE. BANTER. - Unique take on vampires that honestly left me floored - Hawke - Not only a cliffhanger ending but a double cliffhanger + an UM EXCUSE ME moment (when you know, you know) - Ending strikes a nice balance of questions answered and questions left open - The story stick with you...seriously I was in the shower breaking down what the heck just happened and all the things I need to have happen ASAP in book 2 - Hawke What I adore most about FB&A is Hawke how it isn't just a love story. It is a unique coming of age tale wherein our heroine slowly starts to question the world around her as she grapples with everything she's been denied. Also Hawke. Were there typos? Sure. Did I care? Absolutely not. Overall, new adult perfection. I don't know what rock I've been living under, but prior to FB&A I hadn't heard of JLA or any of her works and I'm struggling to recall how I even came across this one. I remember reading the summary, not really understanding it, but thinking this will probably make its way to the bottom of my TBR but why not. So glad that wasn't the case or else the past few months would look a lot different. You know that feeling when a book comes into your life at exactly the right time? While years later I tend to laugh at what those books are (*cough* Twilight *cough* Fifty Shades of Grey), the power a book has to transport you to another world, distract you for a few hours, or even remind you what is beautiful about the world you are living in now will never cease to amaze me. I count my lucky stars that whenever I'm feeling low the right title somehow makes its way into my hands and breathes life back into me. And that's what From Blood and Ash did. Poppy's story not only consumed my little bookish soul, it served as the gateway drug to all things JLA. The JLAnders and FB&A Facebook groups have been a constant source of joy. I've been a diehard reader my entire life and never seen another community like this. In conclusion, read this book. You won't regret it. Pinky promise. I hope it has one fraction of the effect it had on me. Even if it doesn't, I hope you find the book does. ["

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November 21, 2020 Verified Purchase

Stephanie T.

From blood and ash, we will rise

"After reading all of SJM novels, I've been trying to find all the fantasy series I can to fill that void. FBAA came highly recommended and I am SO glad I picked it up. While the book started off a little slow, I quickly got into it and eventually devoured it. Like, read 300 pages in one day kind of devoured it. I think Jennifer Armentrout did a really great job of sprinkling in the world building with the plot, the character development and the spice. I felt this helped the story flow at a natural pace and held my interest. Poppy is a bad ass female character. Chosen as "The Maiden", she lives a life of solitude and isolation. Yes, she is around people, but she isn't allowed to live freely. She cannot speak to others, she cannot learn freely, she can't go outside unattended, and she must cover her face at all times. She is taken care of, but she also suffers abuse from more than one person. But I love that her character doesn’t fully lie down and resign herself to this life. She takes what she can into her own hands to rebel by learning how to fight, and sneaking out to discover life beyond her veil and her 'title'. Hawke Flynn is something else. A tall, dark and handsome young guard, he works his way quickly up the rankings to become a personal guard of Poppy. He's a bit of a mystery most of the book, with minimal background given besides he's a good fighter, he's worked his way up the ranks quickly, he is respected, etc. He also has a way about him that is somewhat blunt and sarcastic, leading to many honest moments between him and Poppy which I appreciate. Poppy and Hawke have an undeniable connection that is both physical and emotional. While he may have ulterior motives to getting close to her, he also has a genuine respect for her. He helps her to question her whole life's meaning, and brings out a feisty side to her. Their banter is quite entertaining to experience. Any book that captures my attention like this did is a 5-star read for me. And the ending leaves you on a major cliffhanger - the very last line of the book will leave you desperate to find out what happens next. I absolutely enjoyed this book, and can't wait to read the rest of the series! Tags: fantasy, romance, romantasy, slow burn, plot twists Spice level: 3 🌶🌶🌶 ["

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September 21, 2022 Verified Purchase

Caitlin Jacobs

My Newest Obsession

"From Blood and Ash was incredible. From the romance to the world, I was captivated. Excuse me as I count down the days until the sequel. Writing & Setting Jennifer L. Armentrout’s writing is perfect for this book. It’s easy to read and understand, yet can fit the atmosphere of the world she’s created. Speaking of the world, it was not what I expected. There are slight nods to creatures we’re familiar with but they have unique twists that make them stand out. Plot I was addicted to this book. The first 50 pages or so were a little slower as a lot of important information was dealt out, but the rest flew by. I never wanted to put it down. There’s plenty of action throughout the book, but it’s the romance that drives the plot forward. There are also some fantastic twists. If you read a lot of fantasy novels, you might be able to predict the big twist like I did, but even though I had an idea about what was going to happen, I was still so excited and shocked when it did. Characters The characters are where this book is the most fun. Mostly because of the romance but we’ll get to that in a second. Poppy is our protagonist, and I loved how strong and caring she was. Her empathy yet ruthlessness (so violent) was so interesting to watch. And then there’s Hawke. He’s just *chef’s kiss*. His banter with Poppy was so fun and I really can’t wait to learn even more about him in the sequel. We also had a lot of strong side characters that I loved. Okay but let’s talk about the romance for a second. It was so perfect. It was swoon-worthy and angsty and absolutely addictive. Also, be warned, this is definitely New Adult and NOT YA. Conclusion Pros- amazing romance, interesting world, addictive, impossible to put down Cons- slower start Overall- 5/5 stars. From Blood and Ash is a book that you will get obsessed with. This book is so much more than I thought it would be, and I’m dying to see where it goes. Fans of Sarah J. Maas- please pick this up. Even if you hate Sarah J. Maas- PICK THIS UP! ["

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November 20, 2020 Verified Purchase

Sydney Fowble

Pleasantly surprised!

"⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 🌶🌶.75/5 I admit, I was hesitant to read this book. It seems like people either love it or hate it, and I was worried I'd end up in the latter camp. I love fantasy romance, but one thing I've noticed is that a lot of the popular books and series have rather lackluster writing, and that was my biggest concern going in. From Blood and Ash is the first in a fantasy romance series and follows our narrator, 18 year old Penellaphe (Poppy) Balfour. She is a Maiden, and is destined to 'Ascend' as a gift to the gods, and ultimately, save the Kingdom of Solis. Poppy also has a gift, she can sense a person's physical and mental pain, and by touching them, relieve them of some of it. The Ascended are essentially the ruling class over the kingdom, however they are very mysterious. Poppy lives a life where she is expected to be sheltered; speak only to a few, remain completely covered, never leave the castle, never be touched, etc. However, she is not so good at playing this role. She knows how to fight in hand-to-hand combat, and carries a dagger (we love a stabby woman) and often sneaks out. At the beginning of the book, she leaves the castle one night and ventures to The Red Pearl, a notoriously debaucherous tavern. There, she meets a royal guard who ends up kissing her, and thus begins Poppy's internal investigation on whether or not she truly wants to become the Maiden. There is strife in the Kingdom, because another group, The Atlantians, led by "The Dark One" are said to have plagued the earth with dangerous creatures called Craven. A group called The Descenters are supporters of The Atlantians and want to see the downfall of the Kindom. Each group believes the other is responsible for all their issues. The Descenters/The Atlantians would also like to see the Maiden killed. After one of her personal guards is killed by a masked man, Poppy is assigned a new guard, Hawke (they guy from the Red Pearl). Poppy is practically instantly in love with him and decides to essentially throw all of her Maidenly duties out of the window for him. She is forced to decide if she should fall to temptation and live her life for herself and risk being found unworthy of the gods, or give up all of her freedoms. Fast forward, after a deadly attack on the castle by the Descenters, Poppy is called by the queen to arrive to the Capital sooner than anticipated, and likely to speed up her Ascension. During the treacherous journey from the castle to the Capital, it is revealed that not everything (or everyone) is truly as it seems. Alright, on to my review. I was pleasantly surprised that the writing was better than I was expecting. Was it fantastic? No, but it wasn't bad enough to the point where it drew me out of the story over and over. There were a few grammatical and syntactical errors that were a bit confusing, so the editing could have been a bit better, yes. I also wish that there had been a map (every fantasy needs a map; they look cool and are super helpful) and perhaps a glossary because there are A LOT of different people, events, groups, etc. etc. and that was difficult to keep straight in my head. I wish there was a little more world-building to make things a little clearer. The political intrigue was interesting. Overall, the characters were pretty good. Poppy is interesting, although she is not nearly as sheltered as JLA tries to make her out to be. She's an excellent fighter, she's witty, and swears. She is definitely naive, but I think that's because she's 18. Hawke was of course hot, but his idea of consent was definitely in the grey area. The 🌶 were not over the top and were written well. There was a loooot of tension between Poppy and Hawke which I loved. My one petty gripe was the names she used for people and places. Penellaphe instead of Poppy. The Atlantians. A black character named Tawny. Things like that. Overall, I did enjoy this book. It's not perfect, but most books aren't. It definitely has some faults. I am definitely planning on reading the rest of the books in the series and the FBAA world, and I'm looking forward to them, feeling hopeful. ["

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September 12, 2023 Verified Purchase