REVIEW: From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

As a popular novel featured on BookTok, From Blood and Ash is exciting with fast-paced action, steamy forbidden romance tension, and plenty of angst! But does it truly deserve the hype?

BOOK OVERVIEW

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: From Blood and Ash #1

Genres: New Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Vampires, Werewolves

Content Warnings: Violence, Death, Mature Content, Assault, Abuse, Animal Death, Murder, Suicide (Mention), Kidnapping/Abduction, More

Suggested Age Rating: 18+

Published: Blue Box Press

Page Count: 634

Synopsis:

From Blood and Ash follows Poppy, who has been Chosen by the gods to become the Maiden in the Kingdom of Solis. Forced to live in solitude until her upcoming Ascension, a privilege of the highest honour, Poppy is forbidden to all those around her. Never to be touched, looked upon, or spoken to, she can't help but be drawn to Hawke, her new, alluring, and enticing guard who is honour-bound to ensure her Ascension. But with the threatening rise of a fallen kingdom, the lines between what is forbidden and what is right become blurred as Poppy questions her chosen destiny. When faced with the horrors of her past, Poppy is not only on the verge of becoming unworthy to the gods but risks losing her own life.

Goodreads | Amazon | Indigo

"From Blood and Ash, We Shall Rise"

INITIAL THOUGHTS

I'm a sucker for fantasy (especially with romance), so when I heard about this book on BookTok, it immediately went on my ever-growing TBR. Soon, the hype for this was so high that I couldn't go three videos without seeing any From Blood and Ash content. With the first three books of this series released, I finally decided to read them. Having never read a JLA novel, I was hooked from the first chapter!

MY REVIEW

"Maiden or not, good or bad, Chosen or forsaken, I deserved to live and to exist without being cloistered by rules I never agreed to."

JLA's writing style was easy to understand as it explained all the different elements of her world. I was never lost or confused with the setting of where the characters were. For the readers who like it when the author is direct with what is going on, this style will appeal to you. I found the writing not having strong enough diction like other NA books (except for the romance scenes, more on that later), but I still liked it! I recommend expecting more upper-YA writing just so you don't find it needs that little bit of improvement like I did. It was quite repetitive sometimes and the consistent use of ellipses (the dot dot dot: "...") was kind of annoying. I was still able to enjoy it, but JLA could improve her writing in these areas.

I did like how JLA incorporates paranormal elements that we are familiar with but adds her unique spin to this novel. She also adds urban aspects, such as mentions of electricity and running water/plumbing, which I think is pretty cool (who wouldn't want to live in a fantasy world that has the modern wonders of plumbing?!). However, there could be improvements made to the world-building, such as explaining in full what certain aspects meant and why/how they came to be that way. I was left with many questions about how Ascension is done and how exactly the whole electricity element works. I'm hoping that JLA addresses these aspects in the next book!

"Fear and bravery are often one and the same. It either makes you a warrior or a coward. The only difference is the person it resides inside."

The plot is fast-paced, addictive, and romance-driven with plenty of action that leaves you breathless! I was fully immersed in the story while I was reading, and I simply could not put it down (I literally read this book in 2 days).

There are some fantastic twists that lead up to the final one. If you've read a lot of fantasy novels, you might be able to figure it out, but I was still very surprised. Be sure to have the sequel (A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire) close by, because you will definitely need it!

"I'm good at what I do."

"And what is that?"

"Killing."

Now onto the characters. From Blood and Ash features Poppy, a strong female protagonist, who is consistently described as being a mid-size to plus-size character. I absolutely love this representation and I'm happy to see it in this novel. Poppy is also very empathetic towards others and does not hesitate to use her wicked skills and ruthlessness to defend them. I also loved her developing relationship with the POC side characters, especially the sarcastic Kieran! She does ask many questions, but due to her isolation and upbringing, it is understandable.

And then we have Hawke, who is simply one of the most immaculate men I have ever read. The mere thought of him is just *chef's kiss*. His incredible fighting skills match his winning personality and charismatic banter that he exchanges with Poppy, which is something I look forward to continue reading in the sequels!

Their addictive, forbidden romance is swoon-worthy with so much angst! Also, enemies-to-lovers fans will love the dagger-to-the-throat scene! Unlike the rest of the novel, the writing in these scenes was quite descriptive and worthy of its NA rating.

"From this moment until the last moment, I am yours."

Also, the cover is so pretty! It is actually quite reflective of a particular area that the characters go to and it was nice to see exactly what the leaves and tree symbolized. The dagger is Poppy's favoured weapon that she uses, and the arrow represents another character from the book.

Pros: forbidden romance angst, strong protagonists, addictive and fast-paced

Cons: diction and world-building could be improved

It was the world-building and writing that made me choose a 4.5-star rating, however, the swoon-worthy romance kept me very engaged. I'm really excited to read the sequel!

"Some truths do nothing but destroy and decay what they do not obliterate. Truths do not always set one free. Only a fool who has spent their entire life being fed lies believes that."

So, what did you think of this novel? Let me know in the comments down below!

Happy reading!

- Jasleen

---

Liked From Blood and Ash? Check out these books:

• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass

• The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

• The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller