All Things Halloween Review - A Soul of Ash & Blood

A Soul of Ash and Blood (Ash and Blood, # 5)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Publication: July 18, 2023 by Blue Box Press

712 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Vampire, Werewolves

Source: Borrowed from e-Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--TA great primal power has risen. The Queen of Flesh and Fire has become the Primal of Blood and Bone—the true Primal of Life and Death. And the battle Casteel, Poppy, and their allies have been fighting has only just begun. Gods are awakening across Iliseeum and the mortal realm, readying for the war to come.

But when Poppy falls into stasis, Cas faces the very real possibility that the dire, unexpected consequences of what she is becoming could take her away from him. Cas is given some advice, though—something he plans to cling to as he waits to see her beautiful eyes open once more: Talk to her.

And so, he does. He reminds Poppy how their journey began, revealing things about himself that only Kieran knows in the process. But it’s anybody’s guess what she’ll wake to or exactly how much of the realm and Cas will have changed when she does.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. But this time, Hawke gets to tell the tale.

I really waffled on whether or not to read A Soul of Ash and Bone. I'm over the retelling of a story from the opposite perspective for the most part. If a story needs two perspectives, then write it that way from the beginning. However, I decided to continue in this series, and read it because it is listed as a main book and not an in-between story. I will say that one event toward the ending makes it feel like you probably don't need to skip this book if you want to continue the series without being confused when book 6, The Primal of Blood and Bone, is released. However, maybe you could just search that spoiler if you don't want to relive the events of From Blood and Ash.

All of that being said, it's been over four years since I read From Blood and Ash, so I thought I wouldn't mind the refresher. I did like that Jennifer L Armentrout decided to have Casteel tell Poppy his version of the events for a purpose. You'd have to read this book to understand what I mean.

Upon my re-read, I felt like the language was much worse than the first book. This is probably because Casteel uses worse language than Poppy in general, but also Poppy was The Maiden at this point in the story and much more subdued than she is in the current books. The spicy scenes seemed even more spicy than before as well. Again, maybe from a male's perspective. And, I just have to say that the relationship between Casteel, Poppy, and Kieran is so weird. I feel like JLA forgot her audience. I know this series is rated for adults, yet it feels like you get invested and then thrown into a weird menage situation that you dreaded she might have been alluding to, but thought surely not. There are no specific menage scenes in A Soul of Ash and Blood, thank goodness, but there were enough weird comments. I just cannot fathom Casteel wanting to share his heartmate with someone else, even Kieran. It's just so weird. And I am still teetering on the idea of DNFing the series if this continues.

Another pet peeve of mine is that these characters keep evolving into greater and stronger, more powerful beings. Poppy has gone from The Maiden to half-Altantian, Princess to Queen, Goddess to Primal, and I'm probably forgetting some steps in between. Now Casteel has his own transformations that are taking place. I know this is a fantasy series, but this just seems so far beyond the realm of possibility. But I guess they have to keep getting stronger because they keep facing bigger and bigger villains as well. I just end up rolling my eyes every time some new level is unlocked.

In the end, I've found this series to be more and more disappointing as the books have gone by instead of getting better and better. I'm holding out hope for the *last book to be redeeming or at the very least, closure. In many ways, I feel like you could skip A Soul of Ash and Blood. it was okay, and I'd rate it 3 Stars. Maybe 3.5. Have you read A Soul of Ash and Blood? What did you think? Let me know!

*I wrote this review back in February 2025 to save for my "All Things Halloween" series. Since writing this review, Jennifer L Armentrout has announced that she will be splitting "book 6" into two books.

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Can't Wait for The Primal of Blood and Bone

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

The Primal of Blood and Bone (Blood & Ash, # 6)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Expected Publication: June 10, 2025 by Blue Box Press

640 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Vampires, Werewolves

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--In the shadows and flames, Primals will fall…

And from the blood and ash, new gods will rise.

In the thrilling penultimate chapter of the viral BLOOD AND ASH series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout, Poppy and Casteel face their most perilous challenges yet as old enemies rise and ancient powers stir from their slumber.

Bound by love but driven by destiny, they must navigate a world on the brink of devastation—where every choice has deadly consequences. With their bond tested and their future hanging in the balance, the fate of the realm rests on the strength of their hearts and the power of the Deminyen.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review of Grace & Glory

Grace and Glory (The Harbinger, # 3)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Publication: June 1st 2021 by Inkyard Press

512 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Danger, betrayal, and enticing forbidden love... When Angels Fall

Trinity Marrow has lost the battle and her beloved Protector. Even with both demons and Wardens on her side, Trin may not win the war against the Harbinger.

Bringing Lucifer back to the world to fight the Harbinger is probably a really, really bad idea, but they’re out of options—and the world’s ultimate fallen angel is the only being powerful enough to impact the outcome.

As Trin and Zayne form a new and more dangerous bond and Lucifer unleashes Hell on earth, the apocalypse looms and the world teeters on the end of forever. Win or lose, one thing is certain—nothing will ever be the same.

Rage & Ruin ends with a bit of a cliffhanger. I can't remember if we get a glimpse of Zayne at the very end or if we think he's actually dead, but the description of Grace and Glory gives it away that he's alive and involved, at least somehow. And that leads me to a discussion topic that I need to type up, but the gist is that I actually have come to expect character rescurrections because they happen so frequently that I'm never surprised when some character finds their ways back from the dead. It's almost become more heroic (in the writing sense) for the author to allow the character to die and stay dead. Maybe I will leave this for now to be discussed in depth later.

Trinity, Roth, and Layla set in motion the plan to bring Lucifer to Earth to fight against Gabriel's plan to open a portal from Earth to Heaven. The idea was that Lucifer's pride wouldn't allow his brother to succeed at something as big as this, even though typically, one would think that doing something similar to this would be up Lucifer's alley. Controlling Lucifer is another story, though. Zayne, as I've already discussed, has come back from the dead as a Fallen Angel with his grace and wings, which apparently makes him nearly as strong as Lucifer.

I really struggled with Grace & Glory in the ways that they discussed God. It reminded me so much of the show Supernatural (which I used to love but ended up abandoning before it was over for the same reasons). To consider that God is just MIA or so completely hands off what's going on in our world feels sacrilegious to me. Funnily enough, Jennifer L Armentrout had to be familiar with the similarities of the Supernatural series to this one because Lucifer gets sucked into binge watching the show once he's on Earth. I think that's kind of funny. Ultimately, she handled enough of the biggest components of the book regarding this area in a way that I could say "okay" over, but mostly I felt majorly uncomfortable through the majority of reading these sections. I want to discuss this in more detail, but a lot would be spoilers.

Zayne and Trinity's relationship is the redeeming part of this book and the series.

Favorite or supporting quotes:

-What was happening to me wasn't the sum of who I was, but it was a part of who I was.

-"I dropped you in a pool." "I'll probably punch you for that when you least expect it..."

-"Maybe God has checked out..."

-"Maybe God just doesn't care anymore, forsaking the most treasured creations. Look throughout history. There were many times God could've stepped in and ended countless horrific and senseless tragedies but chose not to. God acts like the rules can't be broken when God is the one who created them." ... "Some say I'm the monster, the nightmare in the dark and the evil hiding in plain sight, but when a child dies needlessly, it is not a life I've taken. When a mother takes her last breath due to disease, it is not by my will. When a brother dies senselessly, it is not a part of my plan. Death and war and disease are not my creations." ... "But what is God? Because at the end of the day, God could take all that pain away. So tell me, who is the real monster?" "The father of lies," Zayne murmered...

I'm glad that Jennifer L Armentrout at least mentioned that Lucifer is the father of lies, and that indicates that all these things he just spent a long speech accusing God of doing and being are in fact lies. I know it wasn't the purpose of this book to counter argue these lies accused at God, but it feels so important to do so. Leaving things like this feels like leaving the reader with questions and no answers. And I guess she's trusting the reader to think for themselves. But it just left me feeling uncomfortable not to argue these points.

"And just think how many would have heard my words and believed me? Believed my legions?" "Based on what I've seen people believe on social media?" Layla whispered. "Millions."

Again, I'm glad this was mentioned. Social media is full of lies, and I'm here to attest that the mob mentality is almost always wrong, in my opinion.

-"Jesus," Jada whispered, and I bet she was regretting her decision to come here. I was starting to regret this decision. "As if," Lucifer replied, falling onto the chair by the window. "I am nothing like that whiney, all talk and very little action golden Boy."

See what I mean? Sheesh! How much more sacreligious can we get? Obviously, the character speaking here is Lucifer, and I wouldn't expect him to think highly of Jesus, but Scripture is full of instances of God protecting His name, and Jesus is the Name about all names. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I wouldn't think sacrificing Himself for the world is a bunch of talk and no action.

-"You know what people get so wrong about God? That He is an absentee father. That He doesn't care for His children, watch over them meticulously, day in and day out. That He doesn't interfere in the small ways--ways often and easily overlooked. That random choice to turn left instead of right on the way to work? The unexpected decision to stay home or stay out late? The unplanned trip or phone call, purchase or gift? None of that is random or unknown. That is God, doing what a good parent does. Stepping in when they can and knowing when there is nothing they can do. I never really understood how God could do all of that--be willing to do anything and everything to be near His children and yet be able to walk away."

Finally a quote about God that I can get behind.

-"You are all I ever wanted, even before I knew what I wanted. It was you. It was always you."

I feel torn over Grace and Glory. On one hand, I loved Trinity and Zayne. I'm happy they have the ending they did. There's some open ended stuff for if Jennifer L Armentrout wants to return to the series or do a spin-off from it. I loved the story with Peanut and how that played out. I was struggling through so many pages and quotes that felt irreverent to God. For some reason, I don't mind fantasy that is completely fiction, but to borrow upon real life and attribute things to God that just aren't true makes me uncomfortable. I was waiting for the redeeming ending, which unlike Supernatural, Jennifer L Armentrout did give me. I guess overall I give Grace & Glory a reluctant 4 Stars. Have you read Grace & Glory? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

All Things Halloween Review of The War of Two Queens

The War of Two Queens (Blood & Ash, # 4)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Publication: March 15th 2022 by Evil Eye Concepts, Inc

628 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Vampire, Werewolves

Source: Borrowed from the e-library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From the desperation of golden crowns…

Casteel Da’Neer knows all too well that very few are as cunning or vicious as the Blood Queen, but no one, not even him, could’ve prepared for the staggering revelations. The magnitude of what the Blood Queen has done is almost unthinkable.

And born of mortal flesh…

Nothing will stop Poppy from freeing her King and destroying everything the Blood Crown stands for. With the strength of the Primal of Life’s guards behind her, and the support of the wolven, Poppy must convince the Atlantian generals to make war her way—because there can be no retreat this time. Not if she has any hope of building a future where both kingdoms can reside in peace.

A great primal power rises…

Together, Poppy and Casteel must embrace traditions old and new to safeguard those they hold dear—to protect those who cannot defend themselves. But war is only the beginning. Ancient primal powers have already stirred, revealing the horror of what began eons ago. To end what the Blood Queen has begun, Poppy might have to become what she has been prophesied to be—what she fears the most.

As the Harbinger of Death and Destruction.

Spoilers for previous books ahead. Proceed with caution.

I usually procrastinate starting books where one of the main characters is separated from the other at the end of the previous book. A new book starting off where the characters are in a bad place frustrates me because I never know how long it'll be before they're in a better/happier place. But I understand why these books and situations are necessary.

Jennifer L Armentrout has led the reader and the characters towards one specific event in this series for several books. She's been dropping hints and straight up telling everyone what was coming. I was hoping she wouldn't go in this direction, but I know that authors don't bring things up unless they're used in the story. Casteel being captured by the Blood Queen was necessary for Poppy and Kieran to advance in their relationship. I didn't mind this because it felt natural. Except, I was pretty sure I knew the reason behind it all. I had to skim "the scene" because I'm not down with polyamory. And honestly I'm not sure if JLA is going in that direction or if that was a mostly one time thing because it didn't seem that way from the rest of the book. And I'd really hate to abandon this series so far in.

Since I'm complaining, I'll mention my other issues with this series. I have a lower tolerance for physical scenes. Poppy and Casteel are always going at it. JLA is descriptive whenever they're together. I find their interactions less than believable quite often. My other issue is that who Poppy really is keeps growing with each book. She's the Maiden. No, that was a lie. She's going to be a Princess. No wait...now queen. Oh, but now she's Ascended, and she's become a god. No wait, just kidding now she's more than that. Ok I must stop because I'm getting into spoilers for this book. But Poppy continues to grow stronger, and so does the Big Bad she's fighting. One last complaint was the language. The f-bomb is all over this book. It's definitely Casteel, Kieran, and Reaver's favorite word.

At this point, I'm most interested in Malik and Millicent than anything else.

One big positive for me was that I mostly didn't want to put this book down. With over 600 pages, I read The War of Two Queens in 5 days. And that's with 3 kids (7 years old and under) guys. Any free minute I had was reading this book during those 5 days. Granted, I skimmed a few parts: the joining and a few other scenes.

The places I highlighted were placed I saw potential foreshadowing, but I did find this quote interesting:

-“Mortals are easily influenced. They can be convinced of anything by nearly anyone. Take from them, then give them something or someone to blame, and even the most righteous will fall prey to that.

The War of Two Queens hooked me. And I mostly enjoyed the journey. I was sure events were leading toward an inevitable direction, but I held out hope that JLA might choose a different path. She didn't. She went exactly where I was afraid she was going. And because of that, I'm not sure how much I'm going to enjoy the series from here. I plan to read the next book with the option to DNF at any point if it gets too much for me. I definitely had my struggles with this book, but I feel like most of them come in the analysis rather than the experience. The War of Two Queens gets 4 Stars. Have you read The War of Two Queens? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Top Ten Authors (Books) to Read if You Like Jennifer L Armentrout

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Authors (Books) to Read if You Like Jennifer L Armentrout.

When I think of Jennifer L Armentrout books, I think of fantasy, twists, romance, friendships, and stories where most of the pieces are connected and mean something. So that was my criteria for choosing other authors or books I think you should check out if you're a fan of Jennifer L Armentrout.

1. KA Tucker (specifically the Fate & Flame series)
2. Jennifer Anne Davis (all of her books, but Knights of the Realm series & True Reign seires)
3. Marissa Meyer (her Lunar Chronicles series)
4. Darynda Jones (specifically the Charley Davidson & Betwixt & Between series
5. Sarah J Maas (specifically the Throne of Glass series & A Court of Thorns & Roses)
6. Richelle Mead (specifically the Dark Swan series)
7. Robin LaFevers (specifically the His Fair Assassin series & Courting Darkness Duology)
8. Mary E Pearson (specifically the The Remnant Chronicles series & Dance of Thieves series)
9. Pierce Brown (specifically the Red Rising series)
10. Alwyn Hamilton (specifically the Rebel of the Sands series

Are there any books you'd recommend to me because I love Jennifer L Armentrout? What do you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for A Soul of Ash and Blood

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

A Soul of Ash and Blood (Blood and Ash, # 5)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Expected Publication: July 18, 2023

608 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Vampires, Werewolves, Paranormal

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits the first novel in her phenomenal Blood and Ash series. But this time…it’s Hawke’s turn to tell the story.

Filled with new scenes, insights, and a few surprises, A Soul of Ash and Blood is a must-read for fans of From Blood and Ash and the love story of Poppy and Hawke.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Top Ten Santa Wish List Books for 2022

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me.

1. Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World: How One Family Learned That Saying No Can Lead to Life's Biggest Yes by Kristen Welch
2. Grace and Glory (The Harbinger, # 3) by Jennifer L Armentrout
3. A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh & Fire, # 1) by Jennifer L Armentrout
4. It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover
5. Falling for the Cowgirl (Colorado Cowboys, # 4) by Jody Hedlund
6. Cursed (Gilded Duology, # 2) by Marissa Meyer
7. Running Wild (Wild, # 3) by KA Tucker
8. Gentleman Jim by Mimi Matthews
9. The Seamstress (Sisters of Woodside Mysteries, # 4) by Mary Kingswood
10. Sword of Desire (Reigning Kingdoms, # 2) by Jennifer Anne Davis
11. Decluttering By Faith by Dawn Madsen & Diana Kokku

Which books are you hoping Santa brings this year? Let me know!

Rage and Ruin - Review

Rage and Ruin (The Harbinger, # 2)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Publication: June 9th 2020 by Inkyard Press

576 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Dangerous secrets and forbidden desires lead to shocking consequences… Don’t miss book two of the fantastical Harbinger trilogy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout.

“Jennifer L. Armentrout’s intoxicating new fantasy is her best yet!” — New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter on Storm and Fury

A half human, half angel and her bonded gargoyle protector must work with demons to stop the apocalypse while avoiding falling in love. The Harbinger is coming…but who or what is it? All of humankind may fall if Trinity and Zayne can’t win the race against time as dark forces gather.

As tensions rise, they must stay close together and patrol the DC streets at night, seeking signs of the Harbinger, an entity that is killing Wardens and demons with no seeming rhyme or reason. Forbidden to be with each other, Zayne and Trinity fight their feelings and turn to unusual sources for help—the demon Roth and his cohorts. But as deaths pile up and they uncover a sinister plot involving the local high school and endangering someone dear to Zayne, Trin realizes she is being led…herded…played for some unknown end. As anger builds and feelings spiral out of control, it becomes clear that rage may be the ruin of them all.

I read Storm and Fury in the summer of 2019. So it's been 2.5 years. The cliffhanger ending had me dying to get my hands on Rage and Ruin. But I didn't end up getting approved for an e-galley. And while I always knew I wanted to continue the series, review books always take priority for me. So Rage and Ruin kept getting pushed back. And finally I needed something fantasy that I could just jump into and I felt it was finally time to read this book.

Because so much time passed since I read book 1, I was lost at the beginning of Rage and Ruin. I needed a few chapters before I felt like I remembered enough of the past book. But I easily remembered how much I loved Zayne and Trinity. Their forbidden relationship made them so easy to root for. Can they overcome? Will there be consequences for breaking the rules. Obviously I say it all the time, the relationships are my favorite part. I felt like the relationship was evenly balanced with the hunt and discovery of the big bad.

What I didn't really like is how fiction often portrays the idea of "something can't be wrong if it feels so right". Those words weren't used in the book exactly but I felt enough like the idea was pushed to mention it. And boy was I gearing up to blast JLA over the whole "I know this is wrong but my emotions are overwhelming my logic completely" direction it seemed like things were going there at the end. She worked this angle to be just different enough for me to be semi-satisfied. The character didn't quite have to follow through with the direction he/she was planning.

Of course it wouldn't be any book but the series ender if there wasn't a cliffhanger. I'm curious to know what will happen next, but I'm afraid too much of the next book will be fighting the big bad.

Rage and Ruin was a very nice sequel to Storm and Fury. I'm intrigued with where the cliffhanger will go, but I kind of imagine it being easily worked through. I enjoyed every second of Trinity and Zayne's relationship journey. Rage and Ruin gets 4 Stars. Have you read Rage and Ruin? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for The War of Two Queens

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

The War of Two Queens (Blood & Ash, # 4)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Expected Publication: March 15th 2022 by Evil Eye Concepts, Inc

628 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Vampire, Werewolves

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes book four in her Blood and Ash series.

War is only the beginning…

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review - The Crown of Gilded Bones

The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash, #3)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Publication: April 20th 2021 by Blue Box Press

625 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Armentrout comes book three in her Blood and Ash series…

She's been the victim and the survivor…

Poppy never dreamed she would find the love she’s found with Prince Casteel. She wants to revel in her happiness but first they must free his brother and find hers. It’s a dangerous mission and one with far-reaching consequences neither dreamed of. Because Poppy is the Chosen, the Blessed. The true ruler of Atlantia. She carries the blood of the King of Gods within her. By right the crown and the kingdom are hers.

The enemy and the warrior…

Poppy has only ever wanted to control her own life, not the lives of others, but now she must choose to either forsake her birthright or seize the gilded crown and become the Queen of Flesh and Fire. But as the kingdoms’ dark sins and blood-drenched secrets finally unravel, a long-forgotten power rises to pose a genuine threat. And they will stop at nothing to ensure that the crown never sits upon Poppy’s head.

A lover and heartmate…

But the greatest threat to them and to Atlantia is what awaits in the far west, where the Queen of Blood and Ash has her own plans, ones she has waited hundreds of years to carry out. Poppy and Casteel must consider the impossible—travel to the Lands of the Gods and wake the King himself. And as shocking secrets and the harshest betrayals come to light, and enemies emerge to threaten everything Poppy and Casteel have fought for, they will discover just how far they are willing to go for their people—and each other.

And now she will become Queen…

I'm going to have a difficult time putting my thoughts into words for this review. First of all, I thought The Crown of Gilded Bones was the series ender. I'm not sure why I thought this, but because I was waiting for the ultimate conflict to wrap up, this felt like an extremely slow start with much to cover. The pacing of the book does pick up towards the second half, but I still felt like there was too much the characters needed to accomplish and discover in order to settle all of the pieces of the puzzle. Once I realized this is not the series ender, the pacing made more sense.

Of course, my favorite piece of any book is usually the romance. In this case, Casteel and Poppy have a pretty solid relationship. They're together. They know how the other feels. And so there isn't much tension or conflict there. You guys know how this happens. We want our characters to be happy, but we also find them a bit boring when they are.

Most of the story is about Poppy's self-discovery. She slowly gets pieces of her history through the story. And just about every time we settle on an additional piece that allows her to have some sort of title, we learn that there's an even bigger and more powerful title that should replace the one we've just learned. And Poppy is only just beginning to learn her power and what she's capable of. From the start of the series and being trapped as the Maiden, Poppy has dreamed of choosing her own path. And she finds time and time again that those around her want to cast her into a role, a piece of their puzzle, and they have preconceived ideas of how she should act and behave. If she deviates, those characters have at times tried controlling her. But Poppy won't be controlled. She won't allow others to make those decisions for her anymore. And as hard as it may be, she's not going to allow her raw emotions to make the decisions for her either. I was both frustrated and impressed with her through this cycle of behavior. Several times, Poppy has to pull herself back from using her powers in a destructive way. And I wanted to roll my eyes every time she found herself in this mental state, yet applaud her and Jennifer L Armentrout for choosing a different path. Yet, I also wondered why Poppy needed this "lesson" repeatedly.

This series has been about some big twists. Unfortunately, my brain can't help but seek them out. I find myself anticipating a bit twist, reveal, betrayal, etc. And I question myself, "What could the author possibly do to surprise me? What assumptions have I, or the characters, made while progressing through the story that has little to no evidence to support the assumption?" And this has revealed more twists for me than I expected. The downside to this is that if I'm proven right, I'm actually a little disappointed. I want the author to truly surprise me. Or in the best-case scenarios, I want the author to allow me to be right on a few things and yet totally surprise me in other ways. Mostly, I was unsurprised with The Crown of Gilded Bones.

I mentioned the pacing earlier. And the book did feel slow to me. I picked it up despite the length and despite knowing that I wouldn't post my review of it until months later (for All Things Halloween) because I expected to blow through it. I can't really explain why but I kept putting The Crown of Gilded Bones down. Partly this was because I found myself under a lot of stress in real life. We started our home renovation, Husband quit his job and found a new one, as well as having a 4 month-old baby. It was a stressful time. Sometimes I found myself escaping into the book, but sometimes, I felt like The Crown of Gilded Bones was adding more stress to me. And when a chapter break would come, instead of feeling excited and propelled forward....instead of feeling a desire to keep reading, I often felt a desire for a break from the story.

Favorite quotes:

-"There will always be people who need to be reminded of history."

-"Unrest and unease are two very powerful destabilizers of any society. No matter how great one is, they can be taken apart piece by piece from the inside, often tweaking the foundation to the point of collapse before anyone realizes what is happening."

-"The heart doesn't care how long you may have with someone. ... It just cares that you have the person for as long as you can."

-"You are Casteel Hawkethrone Da'Neer. A son. A brother. A friend. A husband. ...You are a King. My king. And you will always be my everything, but never will you be a thing."

And a little bit of A Song of Ice and Fireness coming out in this quote...

-"Make sure she knows that I am the Chosen, the One who is Blessed, and I carry the blood of the King of Gods in me. I am the Liessa to the wolven, the second daughter, the true heir, owed the crowns of Altantia and Solis. I am the Queen of Flesh and Fire, and the gods' guards ride with me. Tell the Blood Queen to prepare for war."

The last thing I'll say is that I felt a little political commentary in this book. It felt close enough to the story to be about the story, but I wondered if it were placed strategically to be a little bit about some of the current political issues we face. I find this irritating no matter what the political stance may be. Thankfully it wasn't a huge piece of the story.

All in all, The Crown of Gilded Bones gets 4 Stars from me. It was slow to get started. Since I incorrectly assumed it was the series ender, the pacing never felt right to me. I often wanted to put the book down, which I find never to be a good thing. The romance is still between two characters that I really like, but because they were in a good place I didn't find that piece of the story to propel me forward. Even still, I do want to know what's going to happen next. How is this all going to wrap up? Have you read The Crown of Gilded Bones? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Can't Wait for A Shadow in the Ember

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire, # 1)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Expected Publication: October 19th 2021 by Blue Box Press

? pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Born shrouded in the veil of the Primals, a Maiden as the Fates promised, Seraphena Mierel’s future has never been hers. Chosen before birth to uphold the desperate deal her ancestor struck to save his people, Sera must leave behind her life and offer herself to the Primal of Death as his Consort.

However, Sera’s real destiny is the most closely guarded secret in all of Lasania—she’s not the well protected Maiden but an assassin with one mission—one target. Make the Primal of Death fall in love, become his weakness, and then…end him. If she fails, she dooms her kingdom to a slow demise at the hands of the Rot.

Sera has always known what she is. Chosen. Consort. Assassin. Weapon. A specter never fully formed yet drenched in blood. A monster. Until him. Until the Primal of Death’s unexpected words and deeds chase away the darkness gathering inside her. And his seductive touch ignites a passion she’s never allowed herself to feel and cannot feel for him. But Sera has never had a choice. Either way, her life is forfeit—it always has been, as she has been forever touched by Life and Death.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire - Review

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (Blood and Ash, # 2)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Publication: September 1st 2020 by Blue Box Press

637 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Source: Personal Kindle Library (Christmas present from Husband)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--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.

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire was so long that it is hard to remember exactly where it started compared to how far in the story things developed. Granted, the book didn't feel as long as its 637 pages. But it leaves me struggling to remember how much I need to comment on. I do know that From Blood and Ash ended with Casteel announcing that he plans to marry Poppy. So that's exactly where A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire began. Poppy is resistant mostly because she doesn't believe in Casteel's feelings for her considering his prior betrayal. But it doesn't take long for Casteel to outline the benefits of a marriage between the two of them to convince Poppy to agree even if she still doubts he has any true feelings for her.

Casteel's reasoning does make sense, but he's counting on some factors that he can't control, like his people falling in line and not questioning him and his father not risking their relationship. And of course, the reader suspects his feelings to be just as real as Poppy's even if neither is yet willing to admit them.

The story progresses quite a lot in this one book. The group leaves New Haven after some troubles there and finally progresses to Atlantia. Poppy's powers are growing in ways that she doesn't understand or expect. She doesn't know what changes might come next. And she finds herself hoping that the Atlantians accept her instead many fear and distrust her. Unfortunately, her growing powers do nothing to quench their fears. If nothing else, her powers create more fear. And we know that people often do terrible things out of fear.

Content is descriptive and language is certainly present. I also worry that Jennifer L Armentrout is slowly trying to prepare the reader for an upcoming sexual event that goes beyond my comfort zone. I hope she doesn't go there. Perhaps the suggestion is enough, but I feel like this is one of those things that wouldn't even have been mentioned if she weren't going there at some point. Either way, if language or descriptive scenes aren't your cup of tea, A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire might not be for you.

Favorite quotes:

-“Make me feel incompetent and kill more than me, Princess.”

-"The world, no matter how big, is often smaller than we realize.”

-“Don’t,” he warned softly, and my hands froze. “I appreciate the gesture, but I don’t need you to take away my pain, nor do I want that.”...“Because the pain is a reminder and a warning. One I plan to never forget.”

-“When it comes to bacon, the answer is always yes.”

-And it was strange how revelations felt like they happened all of a sudden, but in reality, it took many small, almost indiscernible moments over the course of weeks, months, and years.

Given the length of this book, I read A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire quickly. I enjoyed every step of the way. I can't say I had any issues except the potential worry for some scenes to come. Casteel and Poppy's relationship has been such an enjoyable one to read about. Given this was one of my most anticipated reads, I was not disappointed at all. A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire? What did you think? Let me know!

From Blood and Ash - Review

From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash, # 1)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Publication: March 30th 2020 by Blue Box Press

634 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--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.

So I've had two separate friends message me to tell me that I HAD to read this book. I wasn't in a rush because I was in the middle of a different JLA series. When I didn't get approved for book 2 of that series for review, I put it on hold and moved on to other books. Plus the 2nd friend warned me about content as she knows I'm not the biggest fan of descriptive content. Amazon gave me a $5 gift card for reading in November. (I mean, do they know me at all? Just continue to throw money at me Amazon. I don't mind.) So I used it to purchase From Blood and Ash, and I went into this book prepared for too much description. Perhaps my expectations were off. Certainly, the content exists, but it wasn't quite as bad as I expected it to be.

Poppy is the Maiden. She's gifted with the ability to feel others' pain. I'm not sure if it is the gift exactly that makes her the Maiden or not. That wasn't 100% clear. What also isn't clear is what being the Maiden means for the kingdom. She's a symbol and supposedly important for the future, but how so wasn't clear. I'm not even sure Poppy knew the reason either. But being the Maiden means she has to live differently from everyone else. She has to be veiled. She can't have any close relationships. She's not sure she even wants to be the Maiden. She does know that she just wants an opportunity to live and a choice of what happens in her life.

Poppy's attention is continually drawn to a new guard that works his way up the ranks until he becomes one of two personal guards for her. Hawke shows interest in her as a person. What her dreams are beyond her duty. She intrigues him and is continually surprising him. The two develop a connection with significant tension between them.

Twists abound in From Blood and Ash, but to be honest, none of them surprised me except the very last sentence of the book. But I found that I didn't even mind because the story was so engrossing that I was sucked in. I don't feel like this is anything spoiler related, but I also found the take on fantasy creatures unique-ish. Vampires and werewolves and maybe even zombie-ish creatures. All of it was new yet not.

Favorite quotes:

-...but lust was not love, it was not loyalty, and it was not long lasting.

-"I won’t ever prevent you from lifting a sword to protect your life or those you care about,” he said. “But I won’t let you shove that sword through your own heart to prove a point.”

From Blood and Ash was every bit as good as my two friends indicated. Yes, there is language and content if that's something you'd like to know about ahead of time, but my expectations were off due to warnings from my friend so I was actually expecting more than there was. I wasn't surprised by hardly anything within the story that I imagine were intended to be twists, but I didn't mind because the story and the characters made everything come alive. The cliffhanger ending had me dying to break down and purchase book 2 immediately. From Blood and Ash gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read From Blood and Ash ? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for The Crown of Gilded Bones

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash, #3)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Expected Publication: April 20th 2021 by Blue Box Press

625 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Armentrout comes book three in her Blood and Ash series…

She's been the victim and the survivor…

Poppy never dreamed she would find the love she’s found with Prince Casteel. She wants to revel in her happiness but first they must free his brother and find hers. It’s a dangerous mission and one with far-reaching consequences neither dreamed of. Because Poppy is the Chosen, the Blessed. The true ruler of Atlantia. She carries the blood of the King of Gods within her. By right the crown and the kingdom are hers.

The enemy and the warrior…

Poppy has only ever wanted to control her own life, not the lives of others, but now she must choose to either forsake her birthright or seize the gilded crown and become the Queen of Flesh and Fire. But as the kingdoms’ dark sins and blood-drenched secrets finally unravel, a long-forgotten power rises to pose a genuine threat. And they will stop at nothing to ensure that the crown never sits upon Poppy’s head.

A lover and heartmate…

But the greatest threat to them and to Atlantia is what awaits in the far west, where the Queen of Blood and Ash has her own plans, ones she has waited hundreds of years to carry out. Poppy and Casteel must consider the impossible—travel to the Lands of the Gods and wake the King himself. And as shocking secrets and the harshest betrayals come to light, and enemies emerge to threaten everything Poppy and Casteel have fought for, they will discover just how far they are willing to go for their people—and each other.

And now she will become Queen…

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Top Ten Books I Want Santa to Bring 2020

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Books I Want Santa to Bring 2020.

1. Forever Wild (Wild, # 2.5) by KA Tucker
2. Gentleman Jim by Mimi Matthews
3. Beholden (The Fairest Maidens, # 1) by Jody Hedlund
4. Romancing Her Rival by Joanna Barker
5. Layla by Colleen Hoover
6. A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (Blood and Ash, # 2) by Jennifer L Armentrout
7. A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, # 4) by Sarah J Maas
8. The Gentleman Spy (Serendipity & Secrets, # 2) by Erica Vetsch
9. Beauty and the Baron by Joanna Barker
10. Beguiled (Betwixt & Between, # 3) by Darynda Jones

Which books are you hoping Santa brings you? Let me know!