The ​Crown of Gilded Bones

I'm gonna be real, I thought that this was going to be the last in the series so I was really expecting that this whole story would be resolved by the end of it. So part of my disappointment is because there's going to be another book, this storyline already feels too drawn out. It's been essentially the same story for three books now, Poppy believes she's one thing, finds out she's another. I would assume that the next book should be the last (or at least last of this plot) since it's teasing a war but at this point I don't even know if I care to read it since it'll probably have some contrived ‘surprise' moment, like the others have, that twist the story around and suddenly they're taking a whole book just to take down a city or something.

I do like the story don't get me wrong, I just think it's been drawn out for no real good reason. Another complaint I have is that the dialog is so YA; the story feels like it's meant to be adult high fantasy but the dialog is early 2010's teen show. It clashes a bit for me and takes me out of the story when otherwise seemingly adult people start talking like they're modern day teenagers. I have issues with Poppy and Casteels' relationship dynamic too, but I really don't feel like writing another whole-ass paragraph to explain that, so I'll let it be since in my opinion it improved a little by the end of the book.

You have no idea how happy I am to finish this book and series. Turns out the series was extended for 3 more books and a prequel(?). Thank you, I'll pass.

Overall, you can read only the first book in the series and stop there. From Blood and Ash was mildly interesting and actually had a plot. The second and the third books are plain definitions of what is a filler book. It had the same joke being repeated over and over again, the same dialogues, the same scenes with the blandest characters ever. And then there was some action in the last 5%, that looked as if the author finally remembered that the story has to have some action. Overall, I've read much better-written fanfiction than this series.

The ending of this has me simply reeling and I have beef with Ms. Armentrout. 

I love Poppy and Cas always but especially in this book.

For a hyped series this book falls flat.

I loved the first two books, but within this instalment it story's of big, right where AKOFAF leaves off. It's packed with action and twists until after the first 30%. Then it slows drastically and drags. Things are explained that don't need to be and the strange purple monster things that appear seem to be there to break the sag in the story and that's it.

And OMG all the TALKING!

Within this sagging middle things are repeated of what happened in AKOFAF which isn't needed. Meeting a god was cool but also pointless. The sex was meh.

And for those wondering. There is no JOINING! Which I was really hoping for.


Then the last 15% picks up. But the “big plan” fails and it's obvious it fails because the plan is so STUPID.

The ending I predicted. Snd I'm honestly that that afraid for a certain character? As she could never harm him because of readers love.

Honestly it was meh for me.

I really want to like it but after talking with book clubs my review has decreased. I can't just like a book because of Hawke, even though he is a massive factor to my love for theses books.


I hope book four is going to have more of a story structure this lacks one.

I stayed up from 00:01-5:56 to read this ASAP after being tortured to wait after reading the first two... And now I shall return to being TORTURED once more. JLA weaves magnificent tales. Never have I found myself so enrapt in the world and characters of each page. Mastery and I am so glad I stumbled across it when I did. The third book does not disappoint. All those fan theories? Either squished like a bug, biting and gnawing with suspicion or leaving me outright crowing in the dead of the night with the righteousness or dismay I have been left with. And now... with that for an ending? I wait...