From Blood and Ash
Ratings366
Average rating3.9
So I said I wasn't going to start yet another fantasy series. I swore I would just keep to finishing off the many I still need to finish...enter From Blood and Ash and buddy reading.
This is like slightly better twilight? So I feel less guilt for enjoying it but also still very cringe.
This book had me bouncing back and forth between loving it and cringing super hard. I couldn't handle some of the outdated and contrived tropes. The virginal main character with the rakish, centuries old immortal, hit way too close to the obsession with purity culture that skeeves me out about YA vampire books. That being said, the parts that I liked outweighed the uncomfortable bits. I liked the twist, even if I was glaringly obvious the whole time because every character hinted at it. I also like the lore and her powers. On to the next one.
So, I finally joined the hype party of the series. This book is my guilty pleasure.
The book followed the story of Poppy as the Maiden, the Chosen, for the future of the Kingdom of Solis. I felt that the explanation of worldbuilding should be described more, I mean when I reached the end the book I still asked myself, so what is the importance of being the Maiden?
Utroolig bra plot, karakterer som man blir såå connected med, amazing slow burn med litt hete scener, sykt spennende plot twist omg.
I wanted to like this book. I really did but...
It started off entertaining enough and the action scenes were gripping and enjoyable.
Unfortunately, that is where the praise leaves me. The heroine as well as the love interest feel two dimensional. I didn't so much feel like I was being introduced to her as I was supposed to feel like I could be her. The love interest is... problematic. I enjoyed the ‘bad boy banter' but his actions stretch the term ‘dubious consent' on numerous occasions in ways that are excused because ‘from him she likes it' - and while we know this as the reader, he definitely cannot be sure of this.
Unfortunately, the book is also wholly predictable with every single plot twist not so much foreshadowed as spelled out in neon lights.
Despite all this I actually had a good time reading it for most of the story but the last hundred pages or so just got drastically worse and worse.
I had a really hard time with this one. I wanted to like the book and know more about the story but the writing was not great and made it hard to stay engaged. I would have liked to have more context of the world and how it works much sooner than when we actually start getting explanations of important mechanics. The character is hard to like and comes off as annoying rather than just honestly out of touch. I only got about a third of the way before giving up on this one.
SPOILERS (kind of)
I LOVED the book, I expected a twist but it was SO WELL DONE. And now I'm dying to start book 2, but also I can't believe that the series wasn't finished, I didn't know when I started and I knooooooooow I'll want more.
Poppy is one hell of a character, but so is ‘Hawke'
Very quick read. Enjoyed it. If you are enjoying the Blood and Ash Series you will like this quick read
5.15.2021 update lol I hated the second book so much that I can't bring myself to keep the rating of this book at 5 stars. this is the quickest I think I have ever changed a rating for a book
5.12.2021 original review ]
Omigod...
RTC when it's not 2 hours past my bedtime and my brain can maybe fathom what I just read
I watched some YouTube videos on this title before I bought it and once again this was a book that I was skeptical on. I'm not really into romance or romance-forward fantasy, but this book was definitely clever! It takes an old concept and flips it on its head. With a girl that must remain pure and unseen for the future of her country to a deeper under rooted agenda by the elite.
I genuinely have no idea how to rate this book. It is clearly not a great work of fiction, but I've really enjoyed reading it. Especially the last 20%. Actually this book almost killed me with the level of absurdity of the events in the book.
Yes yes yes! Can definitely see the hype with this one.
It was a little slow to start and the world building could have done with a bit more fleshing out early on, but the characters were great, romance on point and the twists at the end were perfection!
Okay, I will admit I went into this one with less than warm feelings. I was apprehensive at best. The first chapter or so didn't pull me in either. This might be different from other people, but the whole meet-cute actually rubbed me the wrong way. But slowly it pulled me in and before I knew it I was hooked.
Vampires and werewolves but in different ways and lore. I found it all fascinating.
There are twists and turns which had me so engaged. I also ended up really liking the main characters. There were moments that hurt my heart, for sure, and others that had me pumping my fist. This book is a great read!
Oh, this book. I don't even know where to start. I was expecting to love this one. I like Jennifer L. Armentrout's writing and I usually enjoy her stories.
This book didn't quite work for me. First of all, it has been marketed as high fantasy and in my opinion it really isn't. Then, the world building is somewhat inconsistent and the first interaction between Poppy and Hawke wasn't the best (consent should be taken very seriously) which ruined most of the romance to me.
Poppy's actions were very out of character because she didn't act like a sheltered character at all. Also, several of her choices... Dumb.
However, I'm curious about where the story is going. The political intrigue and the conflict between atlantians, humans, royals and wolvens was engaging and I wish it was better explored.
I'll probably read the next one. Yeah, it makes no sense that I want to do that. Can't explain it!
Note: I wrote this mini review in my January wrap up. It's now June and I have no desire to keep reading this series. So, I won't be reading the next book.
From Blood and Ash is recommended to people who just finished ACOTAR and want something similar to devour. There are...minor similarities between the two books, but to my humble opinion, FBAA is not NEARLY as good as ACOTAR. First off, nothing happens in the first...three quarters of the book. Seriously, nothing. There is little world building or explanation of ANYTHING. Characters are introduced, but given bare minimum personalities. I found that I was dragging myself to keep reading. It gets better at the end, everyone says! It'll be worth it!
Psht.
The last quarter of the book is like if you read a whole novel on a speedrun. Things happen very quickly, so quick in fact that I was left confused at more than one point. Characters get revealed, plots twisted, people die etc.
I went into this hoping I'd fall in love with the characters and the world the same way I did in ACOTAR, but uh...Nope. Not yet, at least. FBAA is mildly entertaining at best, boring at worst. I wanted another horny fantasy romance, but what I ended up getting was a lukewarm maybe-sort-of-vampire story. I'm still deciding if I'll attempt a read at the second book, but we'll see. Ultimately, I'm disappointed.
4.5 stars
I really liked this book, I would've given it 5 stars, but it lacked something. I don't know what, but it just wasn't a 5 stars read for me at this point. Maybe the fact that there is a huge twist in the book which I had figured out very early and it was no surprise to me when it came. It didn't hit me, it didn't make me go crazy, but it made me satisfied that I had it figured out.
I love Poppy's character. She is just a girl, forced to do whatever the Royals say just because she is “The Chosen”. I felt so sorry for her most of the time because she was caged and she's a really good person, who just wants to help others. I liked how her relationship with Hawke evolved and I obviously liked him. Because how can you not like the most handsome character in the book?
I can't wait to read the next book, hopefully it will feel better than this one did.
I really enjoy Jennifer's books and this one is no exception. However, this one was definitely my favorite. This is her first high fantasy book for me and I loved it. The characters are snarky, strong, and witty. I loved the banter between Hawke and Poppy. As always with JLA, you are left with a massive cliffhanger that makes you want to pick up the next book immediately. Luckily for me, the next one is out but after that, I will have to wait.
CAWPILE Breakdown:
Characters: 10
Atmosphere: 9
Writing: 8
Plot: 8
Intrigue: 9
Logic: 9
Enjoyment: 10
5/5 stars
I'm speechless. slow applause Jennifer is a goddess thank you for this masterpiece. I have always been a Jennifer stan but she really blew it out the water with this one.
My favorite part of this book is the characters hands down. I usually hate the chosen one trope and how self righteous the main characters tend to be and while the main character Poppy is “the chosen one”, she is one of the best characters I have every read. She is so feisty and I related to her so much. She didn't want to be the chosen one and defied people higher than her to protect herself and do what she wants. The side characters were also so fleshed out and I loved them all (or hated depending lol).
NOW DON'T GET ME STARTED ON HAWKE. I love him so freaking much. He's my baby and even tho he is slightly toxic I need his toxicity in my life. I need him to claim me instead of Poppy lol. He is just so witty and charming while also protective and deadly. He's just the combination of everything I need in my life. So what I'm saying is that he's perfect.
This book has a slower beginning but it was very necessary for the world building and understanding the different types of creatures in this world without info dumping. We also got to know Poppy so well and got attached to her guards and the people that cared about her. The plot picked up about 60% of the way into this book and the plot twists had me SHOOK! I kept being surprised left and right and that's when the real steam started too which I loved obviously.
I'm literally so hyped to read the second book since this one is in my top 2 favorite books of the year and I know the second book is going to blow me away just the same.