Book Series Review: Blood & Ash series by Jennifer. L. Armentrout

• 

• 

Review in 10 words: Calling it. My top series of 2020. Potentially all time. 5/5

How to consume: This story needs body-ody-ody. Sip a dram of Laphroig Single Malt Whiskey on ice. It’s smokey, spicy and you will feel it in your chest, just like this plot.

Beats: I would go with the Fantasy Reading Music playlist by RougeBasier. Stellar vibes.

Synopsis: Girls meets boy she probably shouldn’t have but gosh I’m glad she did.

The story follows Poppy; A maiden and ultimate sacrifice for the immortal ascended and to save the kingdom from the rising of the descenters. She has been chosen from birth and leads a life masked in rules. She cannot converse, cannot touch and she cannot show her face. She cannot have any control and she would trade the honour of being a maiden to any of the jealous ladies of the court if she could.

Then she meets the mysterious Hawke- a younger man who has suspiciously worked his way up through the ranks of the Royal guard and Poppy suddenly has another reason to escape her destiny of being a maiden as the illusion of world she knows begins to crack.

Synopsis: Girls meets boy she probably shouldn’t have but gosh I’m glad she did.

The story follows Poppy; A maiden and ultimate sacrifice for the immortal ascended and to save the kingdom from the rising of the descenters. She has been chosen from birth and leads a life masked in rules. She cannot converse, cannot touch and she cannot show her face. She cannot have any control and she would trade the honour of being a maiden to any of the jealous ladies of the court if she could.

Then she meets the mysterious Hawke- a younger man who has suspiciously worked his way up through the ranks of the Royal guard and Poppy suddenly has another reason to escape her destiny of being a maiden as the illusion of world she knows begins to crack.

Fanart by: Georgie McAllister

My Thoughts:

Oh my lord. I started this series on a whim after seeing it all over socials and BOY DID IT DELIVER. The character development and world building were immaculate. The main characters give off spice for days and if you love romance, fantasy and good dialogue; settle on in . I am a sucker for a red headed woman with sass. I like to think I see myself in them but really I just want to be them. Poppy’s evolution through the two novels was captivating and I fell more and more in love with Hawke with very page.

I loved how much we were given of the side characters as well. I connected with Keiran and Poppy’s arc during the second book and was torn between whose side I was on. The storyline felt so deep and I was addicted. I finished the series in three days. And I am already so excited to reread!

This is a series where I could not think of a critique. I am so excited for the third instalment coming in 2021.

Make sure you check out the Red Pearl bonus chapter as well! I read it after finishing book 2 and was glad I did. You could read after book 1 but it was almost nostalgic reading it at the end of the second book.

Feature photo partially created using photo by Keith Misner on Unsplash