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lunsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Sexual content
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual assault and Death of parent
alleya's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
After how much I loved From Blood and Ash, this book was a real letdown. First of all, I found the relationship dynamics between Poppy and Castiel to be extremely troubling. He exhibited very controlling behavior which was justified by his desire to protect her. This reasoning was never seriously questioned. Her resistance to his control always took the form of childish temper tantrums, throwing things, and screaming, so I couldn't even sympathize with Poppy. And worse, those temper tantrums were portrayed as something Castiel found sexy. And there was way too much sex. I love a good sex scene, but I prefer at least a little plot between them.
Finally, the plot -- which is almost nothing. The attraction of a good fantasy series is to immerse in a world and explore it. But we spent large portions of the book just a couple locations. There was also way too much exposition through dialogue. Every time Poppy has "questions" I know that the author is about to do another info dump on us, and it happened way too often. My eyes glazed over after a while. I spent the entire book waiting to get to Atlantia and see what it's like, and it was incredibly disappointing. This felt like a connector book, and I really hope that these problems will all be left behind in this book because it's only my enjoyment from the first book that's going to be enough to get me to try book 3.
Finally, the plot -- which is almost nothing. The attraction of a good fantasy series is to immerse in a world and explore it. But we spent large portions of the book just a couple locations. There was also way too much exposition through dialogue. Every time Poppy has "questions" I know that the author is about to do another info dump on us, and it happened way too often. My eyes glazed over after a while. I spent the entire book waiting to get to Atlantia and see what it's like, and it was incredibly disappointing. This felt like a connector book, and I really hope that these problems will all be left behind in this book because it's only my enjoyment from the first book that's going to be enough to get me to try book 3.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Kidnapping
Moderate: Gaslighting and Violence
Minor: Death of parent
g_monaghan's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hot
Princess/ Guard Trope
Destiny
Us against the world
Dominant power play
Longing
Injury
Fantasy
Princess/ Guard Trope
Destiny
Us against the world
Dominant power play
Longing
Injury
Fantasy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and War
Moderate: Body horror and Death of parent
nightfell's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Poppy and Casteel have a PDA kink and no one can say otherwise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Gore, Violence, War, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Sexual assault and Torture
emily_holden's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD. I am so pissed I haven’t had time to read it this past week bc every time I was on the edge of my seat. Poppy and cas have the most amazing chemistry and development throughout their relationship and I’m obsessed with them. I never predicted any of the plot twists that occurred which made it that much better. Also the ending???? Like poppy is literally gods descended royalty?? my mouth literally dropped open. Literally starting the next book now!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Confinement, and Kidnapping
thecourtofreading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
"you're an absolutely stunning, murderous little creature."
this is honestly pointless. you could've added half this to the first book, or cut out most of it to make it shorter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Blood
booking_along's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
how did she manage to make this book even better than the first one and end it yet again in a way that makes me desperate for the next book and at the same time afraid to read the next one as soon as possible because the fourth one will not be out until next year?!?!
but dear god! this book was something!
brutal and beautifully and heartbreaking but also so full of friendships and love and respect but also filled with hate and distrust and just such a mixture!!
sure i wish that hawke and poppy’s relationships wouldn’t constantly circle back to drama that wouldn’t really be necessary if those two would just stop for a second and actually talk to each other and share their stories.
but to be fair this is one of the very rare books where it actually makes sense because there wasn’t really a huge amount of time for them to actually talk that much?
i mean this entire book is filled with action and fights and trying to survive!
i have no idea where it’s going next - JLA has to have one big plan for this all but i actually am not afraid that she won’t deliver?
which is super rare to trust an author to actually know where their story will end in a second book of a series with who knows how many books to come.
but if anything this book showed that the author really knows where and what the characters are going and maybe more importantly where they are at in any given time during specific moments in the book.
JLA clearly knows what her characters are supposed to be and how to get them there.
and i haven’t seen that very often, especially on series.
i absolutely loved this book!
all that being said this book is a lot.
and not everyone will enjoy it.
because of how much is going on.
there are the mentioned fights and arguments but also a good amount of sexual Moments and sometimes in situations that didn’t need sex.
but at the same time it wasn’t supinely placed or over the top.
it’s just very noticeable more in comparison to the first book.
i am enjoying this series a lot and i can’t wasn’t to continue and see where everything is going and how this is all going to end!
but dear god! this book was something!
brutal and beautifully and heartbreaking but also so full of friendships and love and respect but also filled with hate and distrust and just such a mixture!!
sure i wish that hawke and poppy’s relationships wouldn’t constantly circle back to drama that wouldn’t really be necessary if those two would just stop for a second and actually talk to each other and share their stories.
but to be fair this is one of the very rare books where it actually makes sense because there wasn’t really a huge amount of time for them to actually talk that much?
i mean this entire book is filled with action and fights and trying to survive!
i have no idea where it’s going next - JLA has to have one big plan for this all but i actually am not afraid that she won’t deliver?
which is super rare to trust an author to actually know where their story will end in a second book of a series with who knows how many books to come.
but if anything this book showed that the author really knows where and what the characters are going and maybe more importantly where they are at in any given time during specific moments in the book.
JLA clearly knows what her characters are supposed to be and how to get them there.
and i haven’t seen that very often, especially on series.
i absolutely loved this book!
all that being said this book is a lot.
and not everyone will enjoy it.
because of how much is going on.
there are the mentioned fights and arguments but also a good amount of sexual Moments and sometimes in situations that didn’t need sex.
but at the same time it wasn’t supinely placed or over the top.
it’s just very noticeable more in comparison to the first book.
i am enjoying this series a lot and i can’t wasn’t to continue and see where everything is going and how this is all going to end!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gaslighting, Gore, Kidnapping, and Violence
dariusmortee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book was…. an experience. I had a lot more trouble getting through this one than I did with the first.
The reason I’m intrigued (hehe) with this book isn’t what drags most in. I like the world building this series has. I enjoy figuring out how this world works.
I am, however, constantly annoyed by Casteel. Poppy is okay and Kieran doesn’t have a personality. This book is such a rollercoaster of good and bad things that I both want to directly continue to the next book and at the same time lay it down for a while. That ending though….. How am I supposed to not read the next one directly after this?
I’m just…..
The reason I’m intrigued (hehe) with this book isn’t what drags most in. I like the world building this series has. I enjoy figuring out how this world works.
I am, however, constantly annoyed by Casteel. Poppy is okay and Kieran doesn’t have a personality. This book is such a rollercoaster of good and bad things that I both want to directly continue to the next book and at the same time lay it down for a while. That ending though….. How am I supposed to not read the next one directly after this?
I’m just…..
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
holthmsn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire far exceeded my thoughts of From Blood and Ash, which was nevertheless was also a 5 star review.
We begin where we had left off exactly from the previous book, and it is full of action, *pretending*, secrets, conflict, hatred, and forgiveness. The From Blood and Ash world continues to develop, with the improvement of showing rather than telling (especially for Poppy). The final chapter leaves you begging for more.
We begin where we had left off exactly from the previous book, and it is full of action, *pretending*, secrets, conflict, hatred, and forgiveness. The From Blood and Ash world continues to develop, with the improvement of showing rather than telling (especially for Poppy). The final chapter leaves you begging for more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
sierraechobravo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Sexual content