Lira is the princess and heir to the siren Kingdom of Ket, which is currently ruled by her abusive and manipulative mother. When Lira takes a prince’s heart outside of her birth week, the Sea Queen decides to punish her daughter. The punishment? She cannot take a prince’s heart, only one of a sailor. With her legend on the line, Lira finds a loophole and attempts to take a pirate prince’s heart. When she fails, her mother forces Lira to become human and takes away her singing voice, so she cannot lure the prince to his death. Instead, she must take his heart another way.
Prince Elian of Midas refuses to settle down and become king, instead opting for a life of piracy and adventure. His mission? To kill every siren, especially the Princes’ Bane, and save humanity from the cruelty of the siren race. However, his plans are thwarted by Lira, unbeknownst to him, when he saves Lira from “drowning” after turning human.
Lira successfully keeps her secret, but her goal changes the longer she is aboard the Saad. So what happens when Elian and Lira’s goals align and Lira’s real identity is threatened to be revealed? Will she claim his heart as her mother wants, or will she claim it in another way?
Pros
Solid characters
World-building
Book pace
Cons
No map
Confusing end battle
Vague ending
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot
Right off the bat, the plot of the story is similar to that of The Little Mermaid, but with a gruesome twist. To Kill A Kingdom is more blood-thirsty than the beloved Disney movie, however, the premise is the same. A siren princess who uses her voice to enchant her victims is forced into a human form and loses her singing voice. She must take the prince’s heart without her song, but not in the way you think. She must rip his still beating heart from his chest to be successful. Did I mention this is all brought on by the Sea Queen who is half octopus with a trident?
I love The Little Mermaid. It had such a profound impact on my childhood, so when I found out To Kill A Kingdom had a similar premise, I had to read it. The general plot was solid, though it did feel convenient at times– i.e. Elian being told the myth of the Crystal of Keto. I mean, I understand that Rycroft was behind Elian finding this out, and even then the character was killed off/disposed of too quickly.
There are a few qualms I had in regards to the plot/story. 1) Lira learning to walk as quickly as she did, 2) the lack of siren killings, especially for a siren hunter, 3) the confusing final battle scene, and 4) the vague ending. So, let’s go through it.
1) Lira learning to walk
You would think for a siren-turned-human it would take her longer to learn to walk instead of a chapter or so. I would have liked to see Lira struggle a bit more with this in the book.
2) Lack of siren killings
Yes, we got the initial scene when Lira first arrived on the Saad, but I would like liked to see more of this and the effects it had on both Lira and Elian. Also, it just makes sense to have at least 1 more scene since Elian is the siren hunter.
3) Confusing final battle
I could not for the life of me figure out if these characters were or weren’t in the water. The way it was described it seemed like they were on land, but then it would mention they swam. And if they were in the water for most of the final battle, then poor Elian! The guy must have been exhausted after trying to stay afloat and swimming around.
It seemed like a powerful battle and the inexperience of Lira versus the experience of her mother was evident, but I just couldn’t figure out what was happening. That could just be me, though.
4) Vague ending
I loved the final chapter and what is alluded to, but I wish there was more. What is Elian and Lira’s relationship now? We know Elian isn’t the king of Midas and most borders are open, but how much time has passed? What does the Kingdom of Keto look like now with all the divers? What about Kahlia? Are there more relationships between sirens and humans now? I have so many questions!
Regardless of these issues, the book was still fantastic and entertaining. The world-building was wonderful and I want to know more about it, like a spin-off on Madrid and Kye or even a prequel with Keto and the humans. It was so unique and enticing that it seemed like Christo had thoroughly planned out a handful of kingdoms and relations for this book. I want to know more about them.
Characters
The slow burn between Lira and Elian was great. I loved the parallels and how much they grew on each other. Definitely not spicy, but the romance was nice and sweet.
Although the plot was YA, I felt like the characters were in their early 20s, especially Elian. The decisions they made and their mindset definitely screamed older to me, which is fine because I prefer older characters. None of the characters felt flat to me, either. They felt well-rounded like they had history and depth. Hence why I want a spin-off on Madrid and Kye.
I also love seeing female protagonists gain strength from their counter-part, and male protagonists become soft due to their counterparts. I think it creates balance in the characters and good development, especially if they’re too soft or too cold.
Lira
Lira was a strong female protagonist and I am here for it! She kicked ass and took names later. She developed so much from the murderous siren that had a kernel of self-doubt, to realizing who she was and popping open that kernel to find herself. Her development was the most noticeable because we saw her question what the sirens were doing, her mother’s rule, and she learned more about humans rather than sticking to whatever was shoved down her throat. Her progression was realistic and felt genuine.
The only thing I wish we saw more of was weakness from her. We know she’s strong, but to see her breakdown after being captive or trying to figure out her emotions or the weight of her betrayal to her mother would have been wonderful. However, Lira was still a well-rounded character and a generational breaker of horrible habits. Kudos to her!
Elian
I loved Elian! He was strong, confident, but also caring towards his crew. His internal conflict about the throne and being king, and then using that as a bargaining chip was stellar. He felt like an actual prince who yearned for the sea instead of the life of royals, and he was fighting it every step of the way. If he had to be king, it would not be decided easily.
While his decisions were tough and his love for his crew was strong, his character development was more subtle. He fell for Lira slowly and it showed in the way he talked about her and came back for her on Rycroft’s ship.
Side Characters
Oh man, where to start with the Sea Queen. She’s a bitch. An abusive, manipulative, octo-mom that had no business ruling or pro-creating. But damn did she make a good villain. We all felt the pressure from trying to please our parents (I know I have– former people pleaser here), so we could relate to how Lira felt and possibly see our own parents/guardians in the Sea Queen; whether it was physical, emotional, or mental.
The Sea Queen was not having any disrespect from anyone and she wanted only her way. However, if we analyze it, her mother was probably like that and her grandmother too. So it’s learned behavior that got out of hand. We see where it is stemming from, but she was brutal. Especially when having Lira kill her own sister.
I adored the side characters, especially Madrid, and their banter/relationships. The whole crew genuinely felt like a family and you definitely got the sense that the Saad was home. That it was more than a ship.
Kahlia was a clever anchor to Lira’s true self. I love their relationship and how protective Lira was of Kahlia. She seemed like a strong character, just under the oppressive influence like the rest and I would have loved to see more of her and her siblings.
Writing
Christo’s writing style and the pace are quite good! Most of the descriptions formed scenes/movies in my head and she didn’t overdo it with adjectives. I especially loved how she didn’t compare people of color to foods, like dark chocolate, but instead used “golden bronze” or “as dark as his eyes.” It felt like these characters were loved and more genuine when written like this.
I enjoyed the incorporation of the Greek language, however, I could have used a pronunciation guide or translation. Because I don’t know any Greek! Also, the use of slang was riddled throughout and kind of took away from the royalty overtones of the book. But the dialog was well written and seemed natural.
Christo’s writing style and the pace are quite good! Most of the descriptions formed scenes/movies in my head and she didn’t overdo it with adjectives. I especially loved how she didn’t compare people of color to foods, like dark chocolate, but instead used “golden bronze” or “as dark as his eyes.” It felt like these characters were loved and more genuine when written like this.
I enjoyed the incorporation of the Greek language, however, I could have used a pronunciation guide or translation. Because I don’t know any Greek! Also, the use of slang was riddled throughout and kind of took away from the royalty overtones of the book. But the dialog was well written and seemed natural.
Conclusion
I enjoyed the action-packed book that is To Kill A Kingdom. It had high stakes, witty banter, and romance, not just with Elain and Lira. When I first picked it up I wasn’t sure if I would like a pirate-type book (I typically read fae books), but I was pleasantly surprised! I fell in love with the world and the characters quickly and the only real issue I had was the oddly written ending. I just wish there was a map to include most of the kingdoms mentioned in the book. I do love a good map!
Now, if you’ll excuse me I need to satisfy this hunger for more pirate romance!
What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Content Warning: Blood, Violence, Smut, Death, Grief, Death
Introduction
The From Blood and Ash series is a strong one. It rivals t hat of A Court of Thorns and Roses except more violent and edgy. This series is full of blood, teeth, and sex. From Blood and Ash is a different take on the usual lore of vampires and werewolves, and includes gods and godly power.
Pros
Believable characters
Well developed world-building
Strong plot line
Cons
Info-dumps
Identity crisis
Altered map midway through the series (added more land)
Slow paced at times
From Blood and Ash MapA Kingdom of Flesh and Fire MapA War of Two Queens Map
Plot
Recap
Poppy is declared Maiden by the Queen of Solis, meaning she must remain pure; she can’t talk to anyone, no one can see her face, she can only read history books, and she has to basically live the life of a recluse. But what is the purpose of the Maiden that warrants such extremes? Well, the Maiden is chosen by the gods. The accession of others is linked to her and without her, those people cannot ascend and become Ascended, an elite group of individuals composed on only the first born children.
However, Poppy doesn’t quite fit into her role as Maiden. She can play the role, but she is rebellious and pushes her luck on what she can get away, i.e. sneaking out, reading various books, learning to fight, showing her face, etc. This rebellion streak lands her in The Red Pearl, which is a bar of sorts. Here she meets the famous Hawke. They come close to doing the deed, but Hawke is whisked away right before. This leaves Poppy questioning what she wants and how she wants to live her life.
Later on, after the assassination of her body guard, Rylan, Hawke is appointed to protect Poppy along side her other beloved body guard, Viktor. As time passes, Poppy and Hawke become close. Hawke pushes the limits of what he can do with Poppy, such as complimenting her, touching her, etc. It all comes to a head the night of the Blood Rite.Poppy and Hawke become intimate, but Viktor catches on. He chastises Hawke, which the body guard then storms off. This leads to an over flow of built up emotion in Poppy. she expresses her concerns, her wishes, and her distaste for her role as Maiden to Viktor. But before he can say anything, the celebration is ambushed by Descenters, followers of the Dark One.
During this ambush, Poppy shows her hand in her fighting abilities by defending herself and killing Lord Mazeen. During the attack, Viktor is killed defending Poppy and Hawke shows up too late to help. This event initiates a few things: 1) the death of the Duke and Lord Mazeen; 2) the Queen of Solis summoning Poppy to the capital for protection, thus having Hawke escort Poppy there; and 3) the end of all Poppy knows and holds dear.
It is during her trip to the capital with Hawke and a few other guards that Poppy is exposed to the truth, the lies, and her desires. In New Haven, Poppy decides she will leave the life of the Maiden behind to be with Hawke, but this is before she learns who he truly is: Casteel Da’Neer, Prince of Atlantia. This is after she fully gives herself to him and before she learns the truth of his plans and the real conflict between Atlantia and Solis.
Ultimately, Casteel has kidnapped Poppy, killed over Masadonia guards, and plans to use her as leverage to save his brother from the Queen of Solis’s grasp. But that doesn’t quite work out. Casteel falls for Poppy and instead decides they will marry. Poppy fights the marriage proposal and the truth that the Ascended are behind the Craven attacks, are responsible for killing the third sons and daughters, and have blamed all of their wrong doings on Atlantia.
Within days, Poppy, Casteel, and most of New Haven are on the road to head back to Atlantia. They stop off in Spessa’s End before continuing through the mountains. It is here, in Spessa’s End, that Casteel and Poppy fall for each other and come to terms with what has happened. The two are married before meeting Casteel’s parents, this way his parents can’t force him to use Poppy nor can they use Poppy as an example to the Blood Crown (Queen of Solis).
However, while here Poppy learns that her abilities to feel pain have evolved to feeling other emotions and even healing. The Ascended are aware that Poppy is missing and confront the Atlantians at Spessa’s end, which they present an ultimatim. Give Poppy over or face the consequences of an attack. Of course, Poppy and Casteel decide to fight, which results in the Death of the Duchess.
Since the Blood Crown is aware of Poppy’s location, they high-tail it to Atlantia. Once there, a group of people attack Poppy in one of the temples of the gods. In self defense, she activates a power she didn’t know she had, thus promptly killing the attackers. It is during this event that the king and queen of Atlantia, Casteel, and all of Atlantia’s citizens realize that Poppy is a deity, or descendant of the gods.
Before the attack and Poppy can be deescalated, she is knocked out and kidnapped. Poppy ends up chained in catacombs designed to detain deities and gods alike. It is here, that she learns Alister, a trust friend of Casteel and crew, and Commander Jansenis behind the attack. He plans to give Poppy over to the Blood Crown to prevent war. He states that Poppy is a threat to Atlantia and she must either be killed or given to the Blood Crown as a truce of sorts.
During the meeting with Solis representatives to give Poppy over, Casteel and crew attacks both Unseenand Solis reps. to get Poppy back. But Poppy is fatally injured during the attack, thus leading Casteel to ascend Poppy, something that is expressly forbidden.
Come to find out, Poppy hasn’t ascended like everyone else. She’s still herself and relatively normal. Later, it is discovered that Poppy is a god instead of a deity. Thus nulling the current ruler’s of Atlantia’s claim to the thrown and appointing Poppy as Queen.
With her new found information and the lead her brother gave her before the attack on Spessa’s End, the group heads to Iliseeum, home of the gods. It is here that Poppy attempts to persuade Nykots to grant her the power to request the draken’s aid in fighting against the Blood Crown.
But is doesn’t go as planned, and Poppy and crew leave with no answer on how to stop the Blood Crown nor draken. Solis and Atlantia are on the verge of war. To prevent this, Poppy, Casteel, and crew meet with the Blood Crown to negotiate. The Blood Crown demands that she lay waste to Casteel’s mother, who started all of this when she poisioned her, and claim Atlantia as her own. Of course, Poppy and Casteel refuse and demand she back down and denounce her throne.
During this meeting, Casteel’s brother is shown to be alive and well, Tawny was not ascended, she discovers the Blood Crown is her mother, and the Blood Crown has Regenerates, beings that can’t be killed. But things quickly turn sour. In a display of power, which the Blood Crown claims she is a god herself, she kills Ian. Poppy losses her mind and grip on her power and attempts to kill the Blood Crown. Instead, the Blood Crown attacks Poppy and in order to stop the attack, Casteel gives himself up as trade. The Blood Crown accepts and Poppy and the rest of the crew are let go.
In a heart broken rage upon waking up, Poppy goes to attack Oak Amberbut Milicent, a Regenerate stops her and tells her the Blood Crown has left. This then sets into motion Poppy ruling alone with Kieran’s aid and their plan of attack to claim Solis lands and save Casteel.
The Atlantian armies are ordered to take Solis cities, to let the civilians go, take hostage guards who stand down, and kill any guards who continue to protect the Blood Crown. This way Atlantia is seen as liberators instead of the enemy. In the mean time, Poppy, Kieran, and Reaver set out to rescue Casteel.
Instead, the trio is caught and broght to the queen directly. The Blood Crown wants to negotiate with Poppy. Her offer? Malek, the queen’s lover, in exchange for Casteel. The group escapes the Blood Crown with the help of Malik, Casteel’s brother, recuses Casteel, and hides away. However, they are caught again and the negotiation is now a demand, with a mark on Kieran indicatng a time limit before he dies if Malek is not brought to her.
The group retrieves Malek and as a safety precaution for Kieran’s life, the three (Poppy, Casteel, and Kieran) perform the joining, thus linking their lives to Poppy. When presenting the Blood Crown with Malek, the queen then proceeds to kill her lover, unleashing an unimaginable threat: Kolis and his hounds. It is during this fight, as all her friends are dying, that Poppy summons Nykots’s Mistress by name– the Primal of Life.
Poppy’s friends are revived, the death hounds killed, the Blood Crown slain, but the threat doesn’t end there. Poppy discovers she is the Primal of both Death and Life and now that Kolis is awaken and free, he threatens to end the world as they know it. The story ends there with the threat of world destruction and it will be up to Poppy, Casteel, and crew to stop it.
Analysis
Whew, now that was the shortened and relatively vague plot line of all 4 books in the series. The plot actually dives deep and at times gets convoluted, especially with Poppy’s deity/god status– but we’ll dive into that later.
To start, I’d like to cover all the negatives before switching over to the positives of the plot line.
Negatives
Condensed Books
The series truly could have been shorted to 3 books.The Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (the second book) is mainly a filler and could have been divided and added to the first and third books. I’m perfectly fine with reading 500-600 pages books, but when nothing happens in the book, then something is wrong. And that is exactly what the second book was. Nothing happened and the same questions and monologs kept getting rehashed– do I love Casteel? Why are my powers evolving? etc.
Pacing
To piggyback off shortening the series to 3 books, the pacing of the books was okay. They were all relatively slow, especially the first and second books, but I found them enjoyable (maybe not so much for book #2). From Blood and Ash took its time setting up for everything that was to come. We got a good sense of the environment, the characters, and the engrained beliefs in Poppy and the citizens. It was a great setup for the rest of the series.
A War of Two Queens Ending
While the series started strong, it ended poorly. At the end of A War of Two Queens, we get a massive info-dump of Poppy actually being a primal, what’s to come, and practically the entire story of why everything is as it is. It was too much in the last 20 pages, and we still didn’t get a satisfying ending. We don’t know what happened after the final battle. It literally ends with the giant info-dump, which promptly set up for the prequel series.
The Joining
Now, I’d like to discuss the Joining. Originally I was all for it, but as the series progressed I found that I adored PoppyCas. The Joining ruined that relationship for me. I have nothing against polyamorous relationships, but the way both Cas and Kieran were reduced to tools for Poppy and to expand their lifespan was disappointing. Kieran deserves better than to be the third wheel in a relationship. He deserves someone who will love him as much as Cas loves Poppy. So now my question becomes, what is the new dynamic? How is this relationship going to work? What if Kieran finds someone?
The Joining so could have been them just linking their lifespans together for the sake of saving Kieran. And it was mentioned time and time again that the Joining didn’t have to be sexual, but it ended up that way. I think it would have been better to have the three of them join and just leave it at that. There didn’t need to be more to it.
Unseen/Grym
I didn’t understand the importance of the Unseen/Gyrm in the series besides having a convenient plot device to cause disruptions. They didn’t add anything to the plot outside of initially capturing Poppy, especially the Gyrm. They were brought up on how they were created, but no one knew why, and then just abandoned. Like, what? Why would you do that?
Tawny’s Powers
Also, what about Tawyn’s powers and weird physical change? I know the stone used to stab her should have killed her, but it didn’t. It felt like this change and her vision of Viktor was just there for convince, just so Poppy would be pointed in a new direction and wonder about her past again. I didn’t like it nor care for it. Honestly, having Tawyn experience this vision and physical change seemed like a cop-out of sorts.
Positives
Regardless of the issues I had with the series, the overall plot is strong. The idea and supporting plot devices are actually set up really well and foreshadowed accordingly. Sometimes they are predictable or a bit eye roll-y, but it’s solid work. I enjoyed the creativity and magic of it all. For me, I can’t predict plots well, so the twists, turns, and endings were always fun and surprising.
Tropes
From Blood and Ash encompassed many of my favorite tropes such as:
Enemies to lovers
One bed
Secret and lies
Forbidden love
Soul mates
Tragic pasts
Sassy heroine
Tall, dark, and handsome love interest
Characters
Poppy Balfour Da’Neer
Poppy is a strong, female protagonist who is well developed and grows throughout the series. She’s a fiery woman who can fend for herself and take a lot of shit thrown her way. Like seriously, she takes everything like a champ in this series. I’d break down at some point, but she doesn’t. Poppy has a strong moral compass and wants to protect the innocent at all costs.
Negatives
Identity Crisis
The biggest problem she faces is her identity crisis. Poppy goes from being a mortal Maiden to a deity, to a goddess, to a primal. An identity per book! This, for me, caused so much confusion and overloaded my brain trying to process what Poppy is and what she is capable of. On top of this crisis, she hardly got time to process whom she was ever since leaving Masadonia. I wish we could have experienced her attempting to cope with this before whisking her off on another info-dump of a journey. She really didn’t get to experience the freedom and self-exploration she wanted. I mean, to an extent she did, but not how I would have liked to have seen it.
Violent Streak
She was also quite violent at the beginning of the series, like unimaginably so! I personally didn’t understand why she wanted to stab and kill everyone she disagreed with. Maybe people actually have these thoughts, but I’m not one of them, so it’s harder for me to connect with that kind of behavior. To piggyback off the violence, I don’t believe she was as good at fighting as the book claimed when she had to learn in secret. No real-world experience or anything, but she’s an expert a dagger fighting and the bow. IDK, not realistic to me.
Over-Powered
Another problem I had with Poppy’s development was how powerful she became. It was almost too powerful. Casteel and Kieran, who were strong and powerful in their own right, just became an accessory to Poppy towards the end of the third book and definitely the fourth book. This didn’t do any of these 3 characters justice. There should have been a cut-off for how powerful Poppy was and who she actually is. Stopping at her being a goddess should have been enough. I seriously don’t see the benefit of her being a primal. It’s overkill.
Not So Sheltered
Before moving on to things I loved about Poppy, I’d like to talk about how she didn’t come across as a woman sheltered and isolated from society and others for most of her life. Yes, she had Viktor, Rylan, and Tawny, but even then she shouldn’t have been as strong-headed and outspoken. There should have been some hesitancy or reserve when handling situations, but there wasn’t. So, that removed some of the believability from Poppy at first.
Positives
Cas/Hawke Dilemma
Problems aside, there were some things about Poppy that I loved, such as her passion, her moral compass, and her sass. However, one of my favorite and most realistic aspects about Poppy was her dilemma with the whole Cas and Hawke are the same, but different person bit. It’s absolutely relatable and it was portrayed amazingly. I really got the sense that Poppy struggled with this distinction and still had feelings for Hawke, but not Cas. Especially if Cas is the enemy she was groomed to hate and fear.
Questions Anyone?
Another thing I loved about Poppy is her never-ending questions. I know other readers may not like this aspect, but I adore it. I myself ask a lot of questions, so her questions helped me get a better understanding of the world, what people were feeling, the situation, etc. And for someone who has been sheltered most of her life, it makes sense that she would ask so many questions. She can finally do that without punishment!
Personality
Poppy overall is a badass. She’s brave, strong, and doesn’t shy away from tough situations. I love her ideology about how she won’t ask her people to do something that even she wouldn’t do. That’s admirable. She’s truly a compassionate person who just wants to live, be herself, and be with Casteel.
Casteel Da’Neer
Oh, Casteel. Where do I begin? He’s a charismatic asshole who is protective, yet on the verge of being possessive. The Casteel Da’Neer that we see is a result of years of trauma and his attempt to cope with what he went through, along with the loss of his brother and the threat to his kingdom. Needless to say, he has a lot on his plate.
Negatives
Character Growth
While I love Casteel, there were a few issues I had with his character/this “growth.”As the series progresses, Cas becomes more of a side piece and accessory to Poppy. He’s this strong Atlantian than can take on hoards of Craven, but he is in Poppy’s shadow in book #3. Yeah, he saves her life in book #3 and holds his own, but he’s pushed to the side soon after.
Compulsion Ability
And what of his compulsion ability? It’s brought up in book #1 and not used again until books #3/#4. That’s such a waste of power and opportunity. He may have not liked to use it, but show us a situation where he has to. This was such a cool ability that never really got utilized and it’s disappointing.
Firstly, he trusted Poppy way too soon. For someone who planned to use Poppy as a bargaining chip, he told her a lot of information about Atlantia. Even afterward, Poppy was volatile and couldn’t be trusted with what she planned to do, but that didn’t stop Cas.
Positives
A Touch of Insanity
Casteel is your typical “bad boy” who is “tall, dark, and handsome.” Nothing wrong with it because I fall for this type all the time. He is a bit more interesting though, because, while he is sane and intelligent, he also has an edge of insanity. Which makes him that much more believable and adds an incredible amount of subtle depth. He’s loyal and cares deeply for his loved ones. He wants to better the lives of Atlantians, even if he had no chance at the crown before, by taking Spessa’s End and building it up.
Kieran
I adore Kieran. He is such an honest, loyal, and stoic character. I love his dry sense of humor, how he grows to care for Poppy, too, and his friendship with Cas. He is the definition of a true friend. Kieran adds that much-needed connection to the rest of the group outside of Poppy. Without him, I’m afraid we wouldn’t get that strong connection to Netta or Delano.
Of course, it took a while for Kieran to show himself and warm up to Poppy in the series, but once he did he was set. The only thing that bothered me about Kieran is how he was mainly used as a tool for the Joining in the 4th book. Yes, he was Poppy’s rock and the two found solace in each other in Cas’s absence, but his abilities, his perception of things, and his interests were all confined to the Joining and it just wasn’t right. He deserved more than that.
Tawny
We don’t get to see Tawny much besides, but she seems like a good friend, a true friend. She’s comical and supportive of Poppy. Tawny reassured her with Poppy had nightmares and was by her side as much as she could. I like Tawny. What I don’t like are the weird powers she gained and the appearance change. It just didn’t make sense to me. Yeah, the metal used against her can kill, but it didn’t, so what happened? Why did Viktor come to her? Why did her appearance change? I have so many questions and it honestly seemed like her come back was that of convenience to further the plot.
Netta, Delano, & Others
So there are a few side characters of the PoppyCas gang, like Netta, Delano, and…and who else? Besides those two, the other side characters are not really memorable. I seriously cannot recall anyone else’s name. On top of this, they just appear at the end of book 2 and into book 3. There’s no back story for their relationship to Cas or anything. They’re just there. I have no emotional ties to them. They don’t mean anything to me (besides Netta and Delano of course).
A lot of these characters have the same personality, too. If you asked me to distinguish between any of them, even Netta and Delano, I can’t. They all blend together. Those two just stand out because they’ve been involved in the plot longer. It’s honestly disappointing because I love a good, solid side character (we are counting Kieran as the main character, otherwise this would be him).
Valyn & Illena
Valyn and Illeana seem like decent rulers. I adore Valyn and his relationship with Poppy. He cares and just wants what is best for his son. He’s honorable and caring. Illeana I liked, but didn’t. If she was just upfront with the situation she caused with Malek and Isbeth, then maybe this would have been solved much sooner. However, she deserved every right to be heartbroken and distraught by the adultery Malek committed. That was her husband and he cheated on her with another. But Illena did not have the right to try to kill Isbeth, kill her son, and imprison Malek. That was extreme and utterly wrong. So while I can understand her situation, I can’t commend her actions.
Milly & Malik
Okay, so it’s intriguing that Malik falls in love with Milly and stays to protect her, but what is he protecting her from? Is she being tortured if she has favor with Isbeth? Their relationship is vague and an awkward twist in the story that felt it was thrown in just because there was a prophecy of three. I liked it, but I didn’t at the same time. I want more information. I want to know how all this started, and maybe we’ll get that in a different book.
Isbeth (Blood Crown)
Isbeth was ruthless and so manipulative. Although she had every right to be heartbroken and hate Illena, she didn’t have the right to create a society that thrived off fear and the blood of innocents. She could have created something else, but instead, she built Solis as a tool to destroy Atlantia and erect revenge on Illena.
Even with this being said Isbeth was a stellar villain. She made you hate her, but also understand her motives at the same time. Isbeth had a clear goal in mind and she would do anything to achieve it. Which I am all for, but it hurt and killed so many innocents that she couldn’t be redeemed.
Writing
Armentrout definitely has away with words. Her descriptions and scenes are strong, with the exception of a few scenes– i.e. the Joining and A War of Two Queens ending. With those particular scenes, it was hard to tell what was going on. The descriptions were vague or inconsistent. For example, the final battle of A War of Two Queens it seemed like the crew was closer to the Blood Crown than what was described a few scenes later. Even the description of the Bone Temple was hard to envision.
Negatives
There’s only 3 major issues I had with the writing for the series:
Info-dumping and
monologs.
Poppy’s identity
Info-Dumping
The info-dumping, especially in the last 2 books, was atrocious. It’s like mid-series Armentrout decided to do a prequel series or something changed and had to make up for the lack of foreshadowing towards it. Sometimes there was too much information being thrown at me and I would honestly zone out. I couldn’t retain all of it. This made me forget and question things later that was already explained. The information didn’t come organically and it should have.
Monologs
Now, the monologs. I know other readers had issues with Poppy’s extremely long monologs, but for me, it fits. She’s been sheltered and prevented from talking to others, so it makes sense that she would think about it a lot and internalize it. Now, that being said, she didn’t have to do it all the time or repeatedly, especially in The Kingdom of Flesh and Fire. Even Cas did it in his POV. These monologs would drone on and I would zone out on those as well. So, while I understand it in some cases, it needed to be reined in.
Poppy’s Identity
Poppy’s identity changes were too much. Not only could Poppy not settle into herself and learn about herself, but neither could the reader. There was always a dissidence between Poppy’s character and myself. Just when I was getting used to her abilities and mortality, everything changes. Now, it’s okay for the characters to speculate and find out Poppy is something more as time passes, but jeez. 4 different status changes, 2 of which happened in the same book (#3)! This whole thing convoluted the plot and made it difficult to keep things straight. I will say this is probably the only point in the plot that seemed shaky, this new goddess to primal reveal.
Positives
Regardless of these issues, Armentrout’s words enveloped me in the world of From Blood and Ash. I was able to escape for hours and enjoy the characters, their banter, and their journey. A magical world was created and expressed in a realistic and believable way, and I loved it.
Naming Scheme
One thing I liked was the naming scheme and spelling of words. For someone who has to sound out words for pronunciation and spelling, Armentrouts mechanism worked for me. It was easy and simple, and I appreciated it. Yes, they may have been rehashing of other places or switching out letters in names, but it worked. It fit her world and the aesthetic.
As a side note, I’d also like to bring up that I keep calling the series “From Ash and Blood” instead of “From Blood and Ash” because the title isn’t in alphabetical order. Am I the only one who has this issue?
Final Thoughts
I love the vampire/werewolf theme twist. As I’ve stated in one of my individual reviews, I actually never read the back of the book before purchasing it. I was solely convinced by book-stagram to buy it. And they did not let me down!
Overall, I enjoyed this series. I was happy to be fully immersed in a beautiful and horrific world that whisked me away from my every day life. The characters were realistic and lovable; they had me crying and laughing throughout the journey. The world-building was strong, even if Armentrout relied heavily on info-dumping and long, repetitive monologs. The world and magic system were still there. I wish things were smoothed out a bit in relation to the plot and Poppy’s identity, but it is what it is. I still enjoyed the books.
I’m still debating if I’ll continue the series if more books come out after this involving Poppy and Cas just because of how A War of Two Queens ended. However, I am willing to read the prequel books because I’m quite interested in how everything came about.
A Deal with the Elf King is a tale about one’s duty and one’s heart. Most of the time they align, but what happens when they don’t?
We follow Luella as she is abruptly uprooted from her home and taken across the Fade in order to fill the role of the Human Queen; which was an agreement between elves and humans to keep the peace over three thousand years ago. Luella is forced to leave behind her family, community, and her duty as the city’s healer/herbologist. Once in Quinnar, she is faced with a loss of purpose, a cold elf king, and magic that she hadn’t the chance to begin learning.
However, it is Luella’s sense of duty that drives her to end the reign of the Human Queen and bring balance back to Quinnar. Only now, as she works with Eldas, the elf king, she begins to discover emotions she hadn’t felt before. Luella struggles to determine if her emotions for Eldas are due to her duty as the Human Queen or because she actually loves him. And if she loves him and breaks the Human Queen’s reign, does she return to Capton and fill her role as healer, or stay in Midscape and continue to be Queen and Eldas’s wife?
Pros
A map!
Solid, lovable characters
Simple, straightforward plot
Writing style
Cons
Minor format/grammar errors
Minor story consistency issue
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot
The overall plot was a little fast-paced but wasn’t choppy. Events happened quickly and were resolved quickly, but the lingering effects of those events were carried on, which was nice. There was a good sense of time throughout the book as well, such as how many days passed or how many days were left until the coronation. However, I would have liked to see maybe 30 more pages added to the book to smooth out those fast-paced areas a bit more, but that’s a personal preference more than anything.
The plot goes 1) Luella and Elda’s romance, 2) breaking the Human Queen’s reign, and 3) Harrow’s illness/Aria’s role in regaining fae lands.
Kova does a stellar job at balancing all three of these plots and subtly foreshadowing Aria’s role in Harrow’s illness, Luella’s attempted kidnapping, and the overall goal of regaining fae lands taken by the elves thousands of years ago. I figured early on that Luella and Eldas were endgame and that Midscape’s reliance on the Human Queen for life and balance would be broken. However, I was not expecting the subplot of Harrow/Aria to come in a drive the wedge between the two at the very end; pushing the book into the final stages and keeping us all on the edge of our seats.
There was at least one inconsensettancy or unclear point in the plot and it only deals with how many days have passed. When Luella first sits on the redwood thrown, she’s out of commission for a while. Eldas comes to check on her and ultimately decides to help Luella learn to control her magic, but only after two days of rest. However, in the following chapter, we see Luella practicing magic with Eldas the very next day. I’m not sure if this was merely glossed over or if I missed something, but I did re-read that portion a few times.
Characters
Before getting into each character, I want to state this: these characters were solid and lovable, besides Aria. Their arcs, actions, and general personalities were strong and well written and thought out. They felt believable and real, which can be hard to do sometimes.
Luella
Luella is a strong-willed, logical, and duty-driven character. She starts off as a one-track-minded person but quickly becomes more as she starts to question her wants and a potential new purpose. At first, she came across as inauthentic and immature, but as the story progressed, I realized that Luella was very grounded in herself, her abilities, and what she wanted in life. She has a go-get-’em attitude and doesn’t take disrespect lightly, which lends itself to her small-town upbringing.
She fights for the right to choose what she wants in life and keeps a logical mindset when trying to determine if what she is actually feeling for Eldas is due to a Stockholm syndrome-ish situation or if she does love Eldas for who he is. It’s admirable that she realizes that this is a possibility and looks to combat it by seeing how she feels after ending the reign of Human Queens.
I loved seeing her growth throughout the book and her finally accepting her feelings for Eldas. Her journey, though fantastical, is relatable to many and was portrayed in a realistic way. It was refreshing to see a strong female main character in such a romantic novel as this. From other books that I have read, authors tend to lean more into the Stockholm syndrome-ish plot a bit more.
Eldas
Eldas starts off as a cold and indifferent elf king. But we quickly realize that this is not the case. He is chained to tradition and duty, which he dislikes. Once his expectations of Luella, or the Human Queen, were not met but instead replaced by a firey and dutiful woman, Eldas begins to change his outlook on her. He begins to soften and open up.
We learn early on that he has lived in seclusion from the world outside the castle walls practically his entire life, in order to follow tradition. It takes a toll on him and his mental state, which we see when he is learning to live and work with Luella at the beginning of the book. After Luella breaks through his mask and Eldas lowers his guard, we can see that he is in fact a sweet man. He cares deeply for Luella, and though initially driven by his sense of duty to his wife/the Human Queen, it quickly becomes more than that.
Eldas is a man who wants to experience love and true companionship, although he had tried with Rinni. He is eager and so easily accepting of Luella and who she is that we sometimes forget, as readers, that their situation was forced.
Kova does a fantastic job of switching between his facade and authentic self as the plot progresses. Eldas is a complex man, wound in layers of societal expectations and duty.
Hook
Hook was an interesting part of the story because at first, he seemed like a random animal from the Fade. However, once we learn that the Fade is deeply connected to Eldas, the symbolism and connection between Hook and Luella was a great tie-in and indirect way to show that Eldas has a more lovable side that Luella already loves.
He was a good companion and was a source of comfort for most of the book, especially for Luella being in a foreign world. Hook was also used to drive the plot in small sections throughout, and provided a nice break up of serious moments.
The only question I have is: if Luella saw Hook’s eyes when she was younger in the forest, what did that mean besides the obvious she’s the Human Queen? Is there another connection to Eldas Kova is trying to bring forth or am I just reading too much into it?
Writing
Throughout the book, there were a few instances of format or grammar errors— misspelled words, missing commas, weird wording/sentence structure, etc. There were multiple times where I had to re-read the same sentence over and over again to figure out what Kova/the character was attempting to say. So it made reading in some sections a bit tricky, but overall there weren’t too many errors that utterly distracted me and withdrew me from the world.
I also want to point out that the way Kova writes Luella’s intrusive thoughts about Eldas and staying is so realistic. Sometimes those thoughts really do creep up on you or just pop into your head when you’re ignoring your emotions. And sometimes they appear out of a pang of jealously, to which Kova mastered the art of these kinds of thoughts. I loved watching Luella battle with these intrusions because that’s really how it would happen. Once you think you figured out what you wanted to do, especially after suppressing your true feelings, those thoughts just pop back up and make you question things all over again.
Conclusion
Elise Kova definitely made it on my top 10 list of favorite authors. For a stand-alone, 317-page book, I was surprisingly impressed. I typically read series with 3-4 books and immense world-building (high fantasy romance if you will). So for this book to satisfy that immense itch that only a series can scratch is stellar. A Deal with the Elf King is a simple fantasy romance book that has light world-building and strong characters. The plot is solid and the foreshadowing was well placed. It didn’t feel like we were going in circles with the plot or character’s emotions, like in other books.
I wish to see more of Midscape the world Kova built for the characters (which I know she has two more stand-alone books in this world and I do plan on reading them), but I’m content with the end of Eldas and Luella’s story. It was simple and clean and beautifully written.
UPDATE 7/20/2022:
At the back of Kova’s book, she includes a link to her website to receive a bonus scene that takes place five years after the end of A Deal with the Elf King. To receive the scene, you have to sign up for her newsletter and then you’ll be emailed the scene. Which, in my opinion, is worth it.
The extra scene was adorable and wholesome. Luella and Eldas now have a daughter and are learning to be parents. They’re skeptical, however, if their daughter will have magic (Surprise! She does!) and are worried about how to handle it down the line. The Elf King and Human Queen have never had a child together, so know one knows how to manage such a child’s powers. At the end, we’re told that there is someone in the fae lands who might be able to help. This leads into Kova’s second Married to Magic book: Dance with the Fae Prince.
Though the scene was great, I wasn’t a fan of how we find out the two books are linked. I understand that it is a marketing ploy to gather more subscribers to her newsletter, but it could have been an epilog instead.
I will add a disclaimer here, I have not yet read a Dance with the Fae Prince, so the connection might already be explained there. If so, then there’s no harm in missing the bonus scene. However, if it is not, then that link between the two could easily be overlooked. Now, whether it is a vital piece of Kova’s stories and universe has yet to be seen by me.
Click here if you want to signup for Kova’s newsletter and receive the bonus scene. (You can unsubscribe later if you wish).
Content Warning: Blood, Violence, Smut, Death, Grief, Death
Introduction
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it was my least favorite of the series. Even though we finally had Casteel’s POV and I LIVED for those chapters. It just wasn’t doing it for me. The plot of a drag, the action was lame, and there was too much of a history lesson to learn this late in the game. I couldn’t take it and I honestly struggled to read it.
Pros
A map!
Reaver
Cas’s POV
Cons
Damn info-dumping
50% was war prepping and being separated
Vague and confusing descriptions
The Joining scene
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot
Poppy’s linage shouldn’t be this convoluted and confusing. The whole damn thing shouldn’t be. We just had to take it up another notch. Which I truly didn’t see the point of. She could have been a god and still been hella powerful. It just seemed like an unnecessary plot point.
I also didn’t like that the ending alluded to more books instead of ending it tied with a nice bow. I don’t feel satisfied or complete with the ending. I was wanting a more solid and confound ending. And to add to that, the ending was confusing as fuck to keep up with. The descriptions were vague and not explained very well. I couldn’t picture what was happening.
Characters
The dynamic between Casteel, Poppy, and Kieran was an interesting choice. I did see Poppy and Kieran’s relationship as one born of trauma instead of emotional cheating, but I could see where other readers interpreted the situation as such.
And let’s not forget about the Joining! I was pro-joining since it was first mentioned because I was intrigued by the idea of a poly-relationship. But as the series continued and Poppy and Kieran became like siblings, I couldn’t see the Joining happening. It did, though, and it ruined the dynamic of PoppyCas and their friendship with Kieran. I feel betrayed and confused. Kieran deserves more than this. He deserves someone to love him back, not just a piece of PoppyCas. Besides, the scene itself was also very confusing, so I wasn’t even able to enjoy that happened. It felt rushed and not in character.
I don’t have much to say in terms of the main characters. I’m too disappointed and hurt to sort through the mess I just read. Casteel felt bland and his only trait was loving Poppy. Poppy had a little bit of growth, but her personality/identity changes in every book, so she doesn’t get to pin who she is down. And poor Kieran just felt like a tool for the Joining, nothing more.
Side Characters
I also felt nothing when Hisa or Delano died. We weren’t given enough time with them or shown how much they mean to Poppy. That was how I felt about most of the side characters besides Reaver and Kieran. I could read a whole book on just those two.
And what about Malik and Millicent?! That was just random and I needed more on them. They played no role in the ending besides maybe clarifying what the hell the Blood Queen was doing. And what about Callum? Who is he?
Writing
There was a lot of info-dumping into this book. It was honestly a bit overwhelming, but it was set up for the prequel series in mind I’m sure. However, it was mainly dumped at the very end and that didn’t seem like a good move to me. It was too much to take in and not that well explained. I STILL have questions that should have been answered well before now.
This isn’t necessarily the writing, but the chapter images were a lot to say the least. I didn’t like them and it felt off from the tone of the series. And what even does the dragon and moon represent? All the other covers were explained in the books, but this one isn’t. It’s similar to the prequel book cover, so is it relating to that? Maybe I missed the connection when reading.
Conclusion
Although I was generally disappointed and left wanting more, it was a good book. I enjoyed the action-packed scenes and the relationship-building between Poppy and Valyn. But I needed more at the end because it was hyped up as a full scale war, and it was not. It was a measly fight.
This book left me not wanting to read whatever is to follow. It’s just too much at this point and I can accept that they find Kolis and restore peace. But I won’t read it. I will, however, read the prequels because that story sounds interesting.
Content Warning: Blood, Violence, Smut, Death, Grief, Death
Introduction
By far my favorite book in the series! I loved this book so much. It hit everything right for me. The drama, the action, the emotion, the romance! It was a wonderful adventure and such a strong set up for the fin al book. I can’t wait to see where it ends in the next book.
Pros
A map!
Full romance without them hating each other
Internal conflicts
Questions are answered!
Poppy calling Casteel “Cas”
Willa Colyns
Drakens
Cons
Info-dump, take 3
“my Queen” and “Queen” is not as endearing as I thought it would be
Unseen and Gyrm plot>Poppy is over-powered
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot
The desperation, the romance, the conflict, THE ENDING. My gods, I think I died and came back. This plot was more action-packed and heart-wrenching than the previous two books. The way these two came together to take on his parents and the events unfolding was everything! Everything started to connect in this book and make sense. I loved it.
The ending did blindside me, as I don’t pick up on context clues easily. So knowing the Blood Queen is actually Isbeth put a whole new sense of urgency to the series. Which I liked because damn that was a good twist.
Although this was my favorite book in the series so far, I did have a few qualms with it. There was also a lot of switching around Poppy’s heritage and family tree, which got annoying real quick. Everything changed so often, it was hard to keep up. Maybe that was the joint, but damn. Stick to something. Also, the plot with the Unseen and Gyrms as basically nonexistent and only seemed to be used to throw in action. Honestly, could have gone without that.
And can we talk about the meeting with Blood Queen? Why did they decide to sneak it and arrive early? Like I understand the element of surprise, but they could have just arrived early and brought enough people to protect them. Like what was their plan once they got inside? Jump out and yell “surprise!”? It felt like the only reason they snuck through the castle was to see the cave cat/being. Besides that, there was no point. Casteel also didn’t need to sacrifice himself for Poppy because the Blood Queen wants her alive, not dead. It was pointless besides setting up the plot for the next book.
Characters
Kieran
Kieran is amazing. We see a soft, compassionate side to him in this book– towards his mother, Poppy, Casteel. He felt like a loving older brother who just wanted to protect his family. He is my favorite character. Hands down. I want to see more of him in the next book.
Poppy
We see a lot of growth in Poppy in this book. She becomes more solemn as the weight of what is going on around her finally hits. I hate the predicament she’s in with deciding if she wants the crown or not. Honestly, I wanted her to run off with Casteel and build their own life together. It would have been right for her.
She is, however, over-powered in this book. Which I guess makes sense since she’s a god, but doesn’t she need practice or training for all of that?
Casteel
Casteel felt more like a side character in this book. Poppy is all powerful, but so is Cas and it wasn’t really shown. He was more her support through it all. Nothing much happened with him in this book that was worth noting. I would like to see more of him and his family because they genuinely felt like a healthy family.
Side Characters
The side characters filled in the void of this book. They provided comfort, laughs, and overall support. However, I will say I don’t understand how some characters are so close because we didn’t see it nor was it shown. For example, Emil. He was with Alister, why wasn’t he questioned about Alister’s actions and motive? Why is he just walking around and flirting with Netta? I felt no real connection to him or Delano, because we weren’t shown anything.
Writing
Besides the info-dumps, the writing was on par for the series. There was still some repetitiveness (like Poppy and asking questions– which I do enjoy), but for the most part that had subsided. The descriptions about storytelling were spot on and beautifully done. The whole book felt like a movie in my head.
Conclusion
The passion between these two is everything! It warmed a place in my soul that I didn’t know was void. I love this series for the characters and PoppyCas and also Kieran. I feel ike JLA has the entire series outlined and is pulling in small things effectively, like Willa Colyns, but some of it feels like she’s making it up as she goes, i.e. Poppy’s lineage.
Content Warning: Blood, Violence, Smut, Death, Grief, Death
Introduction
Even though this book was slower than the first one, I still enjoyed it more. I’m loving this series and the characters it has. The world building is strong and it feels like JLA has tied everything in perfectly together. Especially that damn book! But I digress.
Pros
A map!
Kieran and the side characters
The romance
Imagery/scenery of the land
Cons
Slow as hell and stationary for 75% of the book
Info-dumping…again
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot
Plot? What plot? I don’t see one. Nothing happened in this book except about a 1/4 of the way through and then again at the very end. Everything in between was like of pointless. HOWEVER. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I like to see characters in their environments and during slow portions. It provides a better sense of the character and who they are.
It was an endless cycle of Poppy’s thoughts, Poppy stabbing someone or talking about it, how much violence turns Casteel on, and yeah, that’s pretty much it. Oh, there was also oddly timed sex scenes, like seriously? In the middle of a battle in a carriage? Do these character not care that others can hear them? That has to be cringiest thing for me.
Characters
Poppy
Poppy is making choices now and taking names later. She finally gets a little control over her life and what she wants to experience, something Casteel is all too willing to show her. We see her breaking out of the veiled Maiden and into the kickass she is. However, her main trait throughout the book is how violent she is, which gets old fast.
Casteel
We finally delve into Casteel’s trauma, how he copes, what he’s done, and how it changed him. And honestly? I love him even more for it. He is not fully right in the head, especially with his love of being stabbed by Poppy, but it makes sense. There’s a comfort in knowing he trusts Poppy as much as he does with that kind of vulnerable information. He’s also very accepting of Poppy, in her wishes, needs, and general self. He doesn’t dismiss her, but instead teases her and wants a challenge, and both of them do. He’s rough around the edges and raw, but you don’t have to question where his loyalties lie.
Side Characters
The wolven are a great aspect of this series. I started loving Kieran and his up-front personality; I love Netta and Jasper. Honestly, that little family is great. They seem so genuine and kind. But besides these three, I’m not really getting a connection with the others, like Emil, Delano, and Alister– although Alister is pretty cool. His character is very comforting and I love that for Poppy.
Writing
Since this book felt more like an elongated filler, there was definitely a lot of repetition, such as Poppy asking questions and going round-in-round with the same thought. In almost every chapter. So, that was pretty annoying to read at times and honestly, I did zone out at parts. If the writing/internal monologue was cleaned up a bit, then this book could have been shorter by like 200-300 pages.
Conclusion
This felt more like a filler book than anything. I know the JLA probably has a plan for why we didn’t get to Atlantia in this book, but damn, at least make the book 300 pages instead of 600. But, don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy it and it was nice to slow down a bit and take in more of the environment and characters.
Content Warning: Blood, Violence, Smut, Death, Grief, Death
Introduction
I’ve never read a Jennifer Armentrout book, so this was my first dive into her writing. And boy was I not disappointed! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even though it had its moments of cringe. It was still an adventure I will probably re-read in the future, just because it’s fun knowing what happens.
Pros
Witty banter
Slow-burn romance
Regaining control of one’s life– discovering their needs and wants in a healthy way.
18+ scenes that were realistic and well-written
Twist ending
Cons
No map
Vague description of characters and places
Info-dumps galore!
Slow beginning/build up
Unnecessary violence
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot
I enjoyed the build-up of this book. It took its time to explain the characters, their relationships, and foreshadowing. It felt like watching a movie in my head. I will say that this book left me with more questions than answers. The types of characters, such as Ascended, Craven, vampry, etc. were not well explained and left me confused at what the difference was. What is the Rite? What are the Ascended? I didn’t even know the Ascended only moved about at night until the end of the book. It wasn’t shown very well earlier on.
It takes me a bit longer to pick up on things, so if you’re anything like me, you thought the Dark One was Prince Malik or someone else, but not Hawke. Or at least you thought that too and then dismissed the idea. So the plot twist towards the end was great and surprising for me. I didn’t read what this book was about, something I do with both video games and books alike, I just base it on reviews and the cover. I was not expecting to get into a vampire/werewolf-type book, but it is what it is and I enjoyed it.
Characters
Poppy
I loved Poppy’s character. She’s stubborn and wants to break out of the chains she knows she doesn’t belong in (girl I relate). However, I didn’t get the feeling that she had been isolated for most of her life. Nor did I really buy into how good she was at fighting– i.e. dagger, bow, hand-to-hand, etc. But she is strong and just wants to live her life, which I respect. The book does a good job of showing us how compassionate Poppy is by giving the people infected by Craven a peaceful death. It’s the soft side to her and her finding out what she likes that I enjoyed about the character.
However, I don’t understand why her character is so violent as well. Like girl, chill. Who thinks about stabbing someone because of an annoying comment? Just roll your eyes and get on with your life. The violence between Poppy and Cas is something I will never understand and quite frankly it was the most off-putting thing for me.
I did feel similar to how Poppy did about Casteel being a different person when he was known as just Hawke. I liked Hawke more than Casteel, but then again my weakness is protective (not possessive) men. I do love the internal conflict she has with liking him, especially between his Hawke persona and his Casteel persona, though. It’s realistic and valid. But, I’m a bit concerned about where this will go with Casteel, especially since he wants her to marry him without her consent. But, at the same time, I’m also excited to see where it will go and how Poppy will react.
Casteel/Hawke
I liked Casteel, however, he was over-sexualized and made too many sexual comments. He’s always trying to touch Poppy or do things forbidden with her despite knowing she could be reprimanded for it. It also felt like Poppy was more of a thing he could conquer. She’s sheltered, a virgin, and doesn’t act like she’s been isolated her entire life. So why wouldn’t he be interested in her? *sarcasm*
However, he doesn’t take away her voice nor necessarily stop her from experiencing life outside of the castle. He just wants her to be careful. He’s also a morally gray character, which I love! I understand why he wants to use Poppy as a bargaining chip, but I also understand his dilemma in not wanting to do that. I think that internal conflict is portrayed well in his character.
Side Characters
The side characters, Tawny, Viktor, Rylan, the Duke, Duchess, etc., were great. They revealed different aspects of Poppy’s life and beliefs, along with her understanding of the world. We got to see the conflict her guards faced when going to see the Duke and how Tawny was a real friend to Poppy. They are also nice pawns to rip away from Poppy and illicit different emotions, like with Viktor and Rylan it was pure grief, but with the Duke, it was joy and relief.
Writing
The names of some of these places, too, were just common names but had letters switched out: Viktor, Masadonia, Pompay, etc. I honestly liked it though. I pronounce words exactly as I see them, so this spelling scheme helped me. But it didn’t feel like fantasy, more urban with a splash of fantasy.
Armentrout used a lot of ellipses in the book, which I know turned quite a few people off from her writing, however, I see writing as a style and you can really bend the rules how you want to, within reason of course.
I would also like to add that the name of the book throws me off every time I go to look it up or talk about it. I want to call it “From Ash and Blood” not “From Blood and Ash.” It doesn’t flow right for me.
Overall, I enjoyed JLA’s writing style and how a lot of it was in Poppy’s thoughts. It makes sense that she would think a lot since she doesn’t have a lot of interactions with others. She’s had to internalize so much, that it only makes sense for her to ask so many questions and narrate the way she does. So I thought it was a nice touch.
Conclusion
This book is a strong intro to what I know will be a bigger series. It sets the foundation and then slowly reveals how everything is a lie. The book also does the “there’s 3 sides: yours, mine, and the truth somewhere in the middle.” I’m excited to see where this story takes me and what lies ahead for the characters. I’m ready for answers and some clarity on the world/plot.
Well, it kind of sucked. I didn’t enjoy this series like I thought I would. Very political and logical. There was hardly a story outside of that. There was so much missing from this book. The lack of Cardan x Jude, Cardan’s character development to actually caring for Jude (which we would have seen in the letters he wrote to her if it wasn’t for the damn exclusive release to Barns and Noble), and general plot development. Nothing much happened until about halfway through the book and even then it was “who cares?”
Pros
A map!
Surprising ending
Grima Mog
Cons
Too happy of a ending
Loose ties/unanswered questions
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot
The “romance” plot felt so forced between Jude and Cardan. They hate each other; it’s a toxic relationship, not need to turn it on it’s head and make it a nice romance. (Thought that’s what I thought I was getting into with this series due to the fanart.)
There’s a few issues I had with the plot:
I wish there was something about Jude becoming immortal or having the option for it. It was hinted at and it feels like a let down to not even have that option.
What about Jude’s mom? There was a secret hinted at, but nothing ever came of it.
And Lady Asha? She was portrayed as an antagonist, but nothing ever came of her. She was just there at the end.
If Madoc is banished and Oak still lives with Vivi, won’t Madoc still have access to corrupt/influence Oak before he becomes king?
The whole revenge and anger driven themes seem to fall away in this book. Jude seems more lenient with pardoning Taryn and giving Madoc a light sentence. Nothing really amounted to anything. No one was held accountable.
The ending was weak, even if Cardan was a giant snake. I just didn’t make sense. It felt out of the blue and there wasn’t really any fighting. At least none that we see. Jude is ready in her armor, and then nothing. And the epilogue was cheesy af. Too out of character and happy for such a toxic and gruesome book.
Characters
Jude
There’s not growth. zero. She’s the same wanna-be badass or tries too hard to be badass. I’m over her. Throw her out. NEXT!
Cardan
We see a softer side of Cardan in this book, almost like Black is going for a redemption arc, but Cardan truly doesn’t deserve/need it. He’s an asshole and a bully. It’s almost ingrained in him. I don’t really want that to change, though.
I’m all for the bad-boy with the tragic past, but Cardan does not check that box for me. I can’t stand the bullying. That’s were I draw the line.
Side Characters
Surprisingly, I don’t hate Madoc. I’m not sure if it’s the way he’s written or if it’s because the story doesn’t really have any consequences, but he’s an okay guy in my book (with a few exceptions).
I still hate Taryn. I think her whole part in the beginning of this book felt rushed and added last minute, just as a way to get Jude back to Elfhame. It honestly seemed out of character for Taryn who would never hurt a fly, but then kills her husband? Okay, whatever.
Grima Mog was hands down the best character in the entire series and I will die on that hill.
Writing
The writing is simple and easy to read through. There’s nothing special about how it flows or the images it creates. It’s just kind of there.
Conclusion
I did not like the series, yet I had to finish them. There was something alluring about the general fae world in these books that kept me. That and Taryn being a betrayer. That was good shit. Speaking of, there didn’t seem to be any real consequences. Taryn wasn’t reprimanded for betraying Jude or killing Locke, her father wasn’t truly punished for trying to stage a coup, and no one died. BORRRINGG.
However, I did enjoy the plot twist of Cardan turning into the giant snake. For the sake of the series and my love/distaste of it, I do wish Jude had to kill Cardan and rule by herself. I think that would have been a fitting end instead of the unusual happy vibes at the end. For such a dramatic and kind of gruesome book, everyone got away scot-free. Honestly, it felt as if this book was rushed or not supposed to happen. The series could have ended after The Wicked King and I would have been content.
This series is more about the politics of a court instead of a fae romance. I’m not into political reads because my mind isn’t very logical, so it was tough for me to maintain interest throughout. I found myself stopping and scrolling on my phone, or not using my entire lunch break to read like normal. I prefer a more romantic approach with even a little bit of smut in it, but this book had none. It was bland in the romance category.
However, I did enjoy this book more than the first one.
Pros
A map!
Intriguing plot
Cons
Annoying characters
Plot starts halfway through the book
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot
The ending! What the hell! Now I have to read the third book. I love how Cardan stabs Jude in the back and banishes her. Maybe it’ll be good for her to not come back. She can live a different life now.
I do think the concept of this book is fun, but it wasn’t portrayed well. Like there could have been so much more Cardan x Jude, at least seeing a little bit of changing feelings instead of a one-night-stand deal. But at the same time I want them at each other’s throats? I’m confused on what I want out of their relationship now.
Characters
Jude
Still not a fan of Jude, but she was more tolerable in this book. She’s so engulfed in power (which, you do you, girl), that for me she isn’t relatable. She makes dumb decisions in some scenes and then others she’s like top-tier strategist. So, I don’t understand the thought-process here. However, I’m interested to see how she handles her banishment in the next book, though.
Cardan
Cardan really doesn’t give a fuck. He just wants to party and drink, it seems. He truly is Jude’s puppet. Throughout the book, though, he didn’t grow. He was the same asshole and bully. I would have liked to see him spiral a little being king or rising up to the task. You know, something a bit more than what he was in the first book.
Side Characters
The Court of Thieves, minus Jude, is probably my favorite. They have more depth and character to them than the rest of the cast. Taryn is a POS sister and I can’t stand her.
Writing
The writing is simple and easy to read through. There’s nothing special about how it flows or the images it creates. It’s just kind of there.
Conclusion
Overall, The Wicked King was a decent installment to the series; much better than the first book. I particularly enjoyed the Sea Kingdom section, as that was the most memorable and interesting to me. Still not the biggest fan of the series (literally feels like I’m reading a different book than other reviewers), but maybe it’ll be redeemed in the third book.
Note: I’m writing this a few days after reading the book and it’s not really that memorable, although it was my favorite. Not sure what they says, but it is what it is.
This book was okay. I’m enjoying the world of it all and love the concept of fae living in-between the lands of humans. That’s a really neat concept. Hell, the whole fae world is interesting. But it ultimately falls flat to me because who cares. I sure as hell don’t.
Pros
A map!
Interesting world
Cons
Flat characters
Odd plot points
Plot starts halfway through the book
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot
Quite frankly, I didn’t like the plot. I thought it was odd and kept asking myself “who cares?” It felt like Jude was forcing herself into something she really didn’t need to. Like who cares if her “dad” takes the crown for his son? Yeah, he might have more of a militaristic take on things, but still. Jude didn’t have to wiggle her way into things.
And what was the whole thing with wanting to join the military? Yeah we know she really wants to join, but we don’t see her ambition, we don’t see her train for anything; we’re just told this is her thing. And then after the tournament is over, that’s it? No other mention of it even though they won? The tournament only seemed like a plot point for Cardan to bully Jude and introduce Locke as a love interest.
Also, what is the romance plot? Falling for your bully? I was very unsettled by this because it’s not healthy. I’m all for an enemies to lovers romance, but not when the love interest is a literal bully and asshole.
Characters
Jude
I don’t see how people like Jude. She wasn’t badass or strong or cunning, she was just annoying. Her motives were questionable and she had no depth besides rage, which is lame. It was like she was trying too hard to defy her “dad” and to be different, and none of it worked in her favor.
Cardan
Boy, oh boy, does Cardan fit the title of this book. He is a cruel prince and I hate him with a firey passion. I cannot stand bullies. He wasn’t interesting, even with his tragic backstory, he was straight up evil and I could give two shits about him.
Side Characters
While I hate Jude, I hate Taryn even more. Who the hell abandons their sister like that? Who leaves her alone to let the cruel prince bully her and potentially kill her? I know I’d be fighting tooth and nail to protect my sister, but that might just be the big sis mode activating.
The rest of the characters are okay at best. They’re pretty static and don’t add too much to the plot for me.
Writing
The writing was simple and a little juvenile, which fits the YA sub-genre. So, I can’t complain there. But the plot and characters that were set up would have better suited the NA sub-genre. This way Black could have dove into the violence and sexual nature of the book.
Conclusion
I didn’t straight up hate the book, but I didn’t like it either. I’m at an odd middle ground to where I want to read the second one. Maybe it’ll get better and have more of a romance/plot. Regardless, I couldn’t get invested in the characters or what was going on. Cardan was awful, Jude was annoying– well most characters were annoying, and the only thing keeping me going was the thin hope something good would happen.
Anyways, I’ll read the second book because I’m intrigued enough to find out what happens next.
Red's Bookish Boones 