A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire // Be still, my heart

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published On: Sept. 1st, 2020
Publisher: Blue Box Press
Genre: NA, Fantasy Romance
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Synopsis:

A Betrayal…

Everything Poppy has ever believed in is a lie, including the man she was falling in love with. Thrust among those who see her as a symbol of a monstrous kingdom, she barely knows who she is without the veil of the Maiden. But what she does know is that nothing is as dangerous to her as him. The Dark One. The Prince of Atlantia. He wants her to fight him, and that’s one order she’s more than happy to obey. He may have taken her, but he will never have her.

A Choice…

Casteel Da’Neer is known by many names and many faces. His lies are as seductive as his touch. His truths as sensual as his bite. Poppy knows better than to trust him. He needs her alive, healthy, and whole to achieve his goals. But he’s the only way for her to get what she wants—to find her brother Ian and see for herself if he has become a soulless Ascended. Working with Casteel instead of against him presents its own risks. He still tempts her with every breath, offering up all she’s ever wanted. Casteel has plans for her. Ones that could expose her to unimaginable pleasure and unfathomable pain. Plans that will force her to look beyond everything she thought she knew about herself—about him. Plans that could bind their lives together in unexpected ways that neither kingdom is prepared for. And she’s far too reckless, too hungry, to resist the temptation.

A Secret…

But unrest has grown in Atlantia as they await the return of their Prince. Whispers of war have become stronger, and Poppy is at the very heart of it all. The King wants to use her to send a message. The Descenters want her dead. The wolven are growing more unpredictable. And as her abilities to feel pain and emotion begin to grow and strengthen, the Atlantians start to fear her. Dark secrets are at play, ones steeped in the blood-drenched sins of two kingdoms that would do anything to keep the truth hidden. But when the earth begins to shake, and the skies start to bleed, it may already be too late.

There’s a moment in books when I know it’s a 5 star rating for me. It’ll usually be during a really tense moment, and my whole body clenches in anticipation before erupting with glee at whatever happens. I can’t keep the wild grin from my face, and I can physically feel my heart skipping over itself.

This was that kind of book.

Oh. my. gosh did I love this!

From Blood & Ash started off super slow for me, and I was honestly super nervous about whether I would end up liking it at all. Towards the last 40% of the book, the plot flipped and I started to fall head over heels for these characters and this world.

• Poppppppyy: My queen, my icon. I love her, which is a surprise because I was pretty bored with her for the first 50% of From Blood & Ash. I really love how she grows into her power and starts to question everything she’s known while also still maintaining that compassion for others. I cannot wait to see where we go with her character!
• Casteel: My brooding, dark prince, I adore you. I think JLA wrote him so that even though he doesn’t have a perspective, we can still totally understand what he’s thinking/feeling. He 100% redeems himself in this book (in my opinion) and I will love him until the day I die.
• The magic: Is still super neat. I love glorified vampires, give me more.
• Kieran: Can someone give him a hug? Preferably me? I hope we get to see some sort of ~romantic relationship~ for him in the next book because I love him and everyone else should, too.

• A lot of in-between: So going into this book, I thought we’d be journeying to Atlantia. That’s what the blurb is about and it’s somewhere around where we land at the end of the first book. It’s totally not. It’s 98% them getting ready to go to Atlantia and then traveling there. We arrive during the last 50 pages, and we’re not even in the capital. Not that I hated this, but it definitely isn’t what I was expecting.
• How the Atlantian’s treat Poppy: They’re dicks. Straight up. Like they’re so mean to her and are constantly treating her horribly. I get that they’re going to be anxious about having The Maiden become of such importance to their Prince, but it doesn’t leave me with much hope that they’ll ever accept her as one of them.
• The magic system is confusing: It’s really cool, yes. But I also had SO many questions, especially in regards to the hierarchy of Atlantian power. Like, we have the gods, we have deities, and then we have their decedents, elementals, I think? Where does that leave Poppy? I’m confused.

In all honesty, I read this book about two weeks ago so some of the details are kinda dusty. But I will say that if I hadn’t jumped right into an ACOTAR re-read after finishing this, I would’ve been in a huge slump.

Also, can the next book come out ASAP please?!

Rating:

Have you read AKOFAF yet? What did you think? Are you sobbing over that ending like I was?

Thanks for reading!! xx