Review: From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
“You’re an absolutely stunning, murderous little creature.”
The Basics
Title: From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash #1)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published: 2020
Publisher: Blue Box Press — Evil Eye Concepts
Pages: 613
Format: Paperback
Genres: Fiction — Fantasy, High fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy romance, Paranormal romance, New adult
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Book Synopsis
As the Maiden, Poppy’s entire life has been decided and scrutinized by others. She has been forced to live an isolated existence and to uphold the utmost propriety so that she might be found worthy by the gods upon her Ascension. To be chosen as the Maiden is supposed to be an honor, but it has never felt that way to Poppy. She longs to be able to make her own decisions and to experience all that life has to offer, and as no one is able to tell her precisely what her Ascension will entail, she is more than a little apprehensive about the upcoming rite.
The closer her Ascension draws, however, the more the forces seem to conspire against it. There is growing unrest in the kingdom, as the Dark Lord, Prince Casteel of Atlantia, and his supporters seem intent on taking back the land that was once theirs. And then there’s the dreaded mist filled with unspeakable horrors that is creeping ever closer to the kingdom’s walls. To ensure her Ascension during these uncertain times, Poppy is assigned a new guard, Hawke. He is equal parts handsome and infuriating, owing to his incessant teasing of her. The more time Poppy spends with him, however, the less infuriating he comes to seem, and she even finds herself increasingly drawn to him. But as the Maiden, there can be no future with him – unless she is willing to face exile and the displeasure of the gods.
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: If you’re looking for an enthralling fantasy with a slow-burn, steamy romance, then this is the book for you.
From Blood and Ash left me with a major book hangover. Each time I opened the book, I was ferried away to another world, and my worldly problems momentarily ceased to exist. I truly lost myself in the story. And then one day, I finished the book, and I was left with a tinge of sadness. I didn’t want the book to end; I could have kept reading for another 600 pages. That right there tells you everything you need to know about this book. It was so good that I, a not-so-easily-appeased reader, was left craving more.
A large part of what makes this book so enjoyable is its story. It’s an original and highly captivating story, replete with an otherworldly setting, forbidden love, intrigue, and plenty of twists and turns. With regard to the first point, the mythical world in which this story takes place is so well described that you can close your eyes and imagine yourself there without any great difficulty. Further, the amount of detail provided on the world’s history and lore lends the world a sense of realism.
Of course, the highlight of the story is the romance subplot. The dynamic between Poppy and Hawke is perfect. I love their back-and-forth banter, as well as Hawke’s teasing of Poppy. Their mutual attraction is evident from their very first encounter, but their romance is a slow burn, with the anticipation around whether they will get together building up over the course of the book. Given the book’s ending, I am curious to see how things will play out between them in the sequel (you’ll now have to go read the book to see what I mean 😁).
In addition to the page-turning romance, the book has its fair share of twists and unforeseen moments that add to its overall enjoyability. You’ll be reading a seemingly normal scene, and then – BAM – something completely unexpected will happen. This has the effect of keeping you on your toes and leaving you wondering what will happen next until the book’s end (and even then, you are still left with some unanswered questions).
With regard to the pace of the book, it is ideal. It is never slow to the point of dullness, nor does it ever move so quickly that things feel rushed. There are also always lulls in between action-packed scenes, allowing you to catch your breath after intense moments.
Now, to talk about the characters. Both primary and secondary characters are well crafted and feel lifelike. The protagonists, Poppy and Hawke, are particularly well penned. You learn enough about their respective histories, personalities, and inner struggles that they take on some depth. This level of detail also has the effect of making the reader care about them; we become invested in their stories and read on to see how things will unfold for them. The secondary characters perfectly fulfill the role of supporting characters: they add to the story without ever drawing too much focus away from the protagonists.
Armentrout’s writing is what brings this story home. Using a first-person narrative from Poppy’s point of view, she creates an immersive and engaging reading experience. From the very first page, she grabs your attention and doesn’t let go until the book’s final word. She crafts lifelike dialogue that is capable of eliciting everything from laughter to anger. She also peppers bits of foreshadowing throughout the book, a writing technique which I enjoy. All in all, she is a wonderful storyteller.
The not so good
Honestly, nothing jumps out at me. I enjoyed this book through and through.
Overall
From Blood and Ash is one of the best books that I have read in recent history (it made my list of favorite reads of 2020). It’s an extremely engrossing story – if you’re anything like me, you’ll be sneaking away to read it at every available opportunity. So, do yourself a favor and go pick up (or borrow) a copy now!
