Neri
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Having started my blog page after reading From Blood and Ash, it never occurred to me that I hadn’t shared my opinion or reviewed the book; so, without further ado…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5
I don’t even know where to start to be honest… This book made me fall in love with reading all over again; the characters, the plot, the writing, they are all AMAZING. It felt great to come back to JLA after reading her Obsidian series, which I LOVED (making a mental note to review those as well because Daemon… HE IS the holy trinity of hot boys).
The book was a total rollercoaster, action-packed with a lot of mysteries to be unravelled throughout the series. I found the characters to be complex and the issues dealt not at all straight. We are presented with Poppy and her duty as the Maiden, but there is a lot more to her than just her veil, although few people seem to see that.
So, let’s start with a plot summary… “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”. She has been secluded all her life with one purpose: her Ascension. Neither her nor her desires have ever been taken into account. “When Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honour bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need”. His arrival turns her world upside down and her perspectives and priorities may change…
TRIGGER WARNINGS
- Sexual assault
- Violence
- Mental and physical abuse
- Torture
SPOILERS AHEAD, BEWARE!
I feel like I must talk about Poppy first. It was so great to finally read a character with whom I could relate so much and I wish I had read more characters like her sooner – especially growing up. Besides, I love having a female main character who isn’t normative and she can kick asses just as well. But let’s go back to the beginning. It was really interesting seeing her evolve through the first book and not because of a guy but for herself. She is a very strong and strong-willed character from the very beginning of the novel and she remains that way until the end. But at first, she doesn’t get to voice those thoughts and in the end she does feel the freedom to speak her mind or wanting to do something violent. I love the scene with Priestess Analia and the way the Skotos Mountains were pronounced… “I took a deep, long breath and tried to ignore the almost overwhelming urge to throw the book at her face” (From Blood and Ash, 294). I think that the best way to describe Poppy is by using Hawke’s words “an absolutely stunning, murderous little creature” (From Blood and Ash, 243) .
And Hawke, or should I say Casteel? WHAT. A. RIDE. I have to say that the betrayal really did hurt but it is so difficult to deny something to him… Regardless, I hated that he was put in a position in which he had to choose between his duty and kingdom and Poppy. I did like this juxtaposition because it is the same situation Poppy was – but she made her mind sooner than he did. It is nice and refreshing seeing this kind of male character, who can be smart and masculine but still fragile. Besides, there is so much pain within him and a lot of mystery surrounding this character, and very little is discovered in this book. Changing the subject, can we just take a minute to talk about the vow he made when becoming Poppy’s guard “With my sword and with my life, I vow to keep you safe, Penellaphe… From this moment until the last moment, I am yours”. He said her name, he wasn’t someone protecting the Maiden, he vowed to protect her. I love JLA’s writing, and this is one of the many quotes I have highlighted in the book.
On another note, I can’t wait to see more about Tawny. I feel like Poppy really needs a friend, someone she can trust… especially at the end of the book. Although, I AM glad she stayed at the castle, otherwise she could have been considered a liability. Anyways, I’m hoping to see more of her and her relationship with Poppy.
Finally, I couldn’t finish this review without mentioning Vikter. When I started the book I was so sure that he would make it through it… I thought, how can Poppy be left without ANY fatherly/motherly figure?! Well, JLA did it, and it hurt. It really was emotional because their relationship was a key part for Poppy. He was the only person she could really trust and she let herself love him. After everything that happened with her family and having witnessed her mother’s murder, it would’ve been too much for anyone but it’s incredible to see how she expects the best from everyone and tries to open herself up… which will definitely make her life more complicated.
This review has been a difficult one, trying to stick to the first book only, but I loved this book and I truly recommend it to everyone. I can’t wait to review the next ones and see what else is instore for all of them, particularly about a person named Kieran who barely appears in this one…
Goodreads: goodreads.com/book/show/52831200-from-blood-and-ash
Instagram: @jennifer_l_armentrout
