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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
This was my most anticipated read of 2024 and it exceeded all expectations! Currently sitting at my #1 read this year. Sera and Nyktos have my whole heart and am definitely not ready for their story to be done. I read the prequel prior to the main series, so I will be reading the Blood And Ash series solely for Sera & Nyktos crumbs lol
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Thank you so much to Blue Box Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
4.5/5 stars
The way Born of Blood and Ash has consumed my life over the past 4 days! I don't even know where to start beyond saying how much I enjoyed this book. It starts out almost exactly where A Fire in the Flesh ends and it hits the ground running straight away. In fact, I don't feel like there was a single dull moment from the quiet, sweet parts to the high stakes situations that put me on the edge of my seat to the moments that literally shattered my heart to the sheer amount of information revealed in connection to the Blood and Ash series. It was incredible and made for an unforgettable conclusion.
I remember saying in my A Fire in the Flesh review that I really felt the beginnings of this big full circle moment with the Blood and Ash connection reveals and answers to certain theories I've had since the very beginning. Lets just say that Born of Blood and Ash took that to the next level and I am still processing it. I won't go into details, obviously, but prepare yourselves for the shock and the AHA! because once again Jennifer has proven that she is a foreshadowing and plot twist master.
Though, there is one major theory of mine that I feel like I still haven't gotten a straight answer on. And I'm hoping the gaps will be thoroughly filled in the last Blood and Ash book because the way I need to know! (Maybe I'll come back a bit after the release and say what my theory is...)
That aside...
One of the things that I loved the most about Born of Blood and Ash was getting to see the cumulation of Sera's journey and her growth through everything she's experienced from A Shadow in the Ember through now. She's still her badass self, obviously, but there is a bigger deep dive into her struggles, especially after A Fire in the Flesh, and seeing her persevere and find her footing as the Primal of Life while dealing with trying to help save the realm and everyone she loves was amazing.
And of course I can't forget about Nyktos, our shadow daddy. The way he cares for Sera, uplifts her, and protects her. I love him. I love them together. Their banter, their need to protect each other really. Basically they both deserve the whole world.
Not to mention the huge cast of characters beyond just Sera and Nyktos who we've all come to know and love. Hands down I feel like the Flesh and Fire series has one of my favorite found families ever. From little Reaver and Jadis to Nektas to Aios and all of the other gods and goddess we only knew by name until this series. I love them and I really enjoyed seeing how much they all cared for each other.
Born of Blood and Ash was a wild journey. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I ranted and screamed to myself about how I wanted to have words with Jennifer over a few things, and ultimately I loved it and the tiny open doors left for future questions and possibilities. I hated saying goodbye as I always do at the end of an amazing series but it has me even more excited (and a little worried) to see how it all truly wraps up in the last Blood and Ash book.
4.5/5 stars
The way Born of Blood and Ash has consumed my life over the past 4 days! I don't even know where to start beyond saying how much I enjoyed this book. It starts out almost exactly where A Fire in the Flesh ends and it hits the ground running straight away. In fact, I don't feel like there was a single dull moment from the quiet, sweet parts to the high stakes situations that put me on the edge of my seat to the moments that literally shattered my heart to the sheer amount of information revealed in connection to the Blood and Ash series. It was incredible and made for an unforgettable conclusion.
I remember saying in my A Fire in the Flesh review that I really felt the beginnings of this big full circle moment with the Blood and Ash connection reveals and answers to certain theories I've had since the very beginning. Lets just say that Born of Blood and Ash took that to the next level and I am still processing it. I won't go into details, obviously, but prepare yourselves for the shock and the AHA! because once again Jennifer has proven that she is a foreshadowing and plot twist master.
Though, there is one major theory of mine that I feel like I still haven't gotten a straight answer on. And I'm hoping the gaps will be thoroughly filled in the last Blood and Ash book because the way I need to know! (Maybe I'll come back a bit after the release and say what my theory is...)
That aside...
One of the things that I loved the most about Born of Blood and Ash was getting to see the cumulation of Sera's journey and her growth through everything she's experienced from A Shadow in the Ember through now. She's still her badass self, obviously, but there is a bigger deep dive into her struggles, especially after A Fire in the Flesh, and seeing her persevere and find her footing as the Primal of Life while dealing with trying to help save the realm and everyone she loves was amazing.
And of course I can't forget about Nyktos, our shadow daddy. The way he cares for Sera, uplifts her, and protects her. I love him. I love them together. Their banter, their need to protect each other really. Basically they both deserve the whole world.
Not to mention the huge cast of characters beyond just Sera and Nyktos who we've all come to know and love. Hands down I feel like the Flesh and Fire series has one of my favorite found families ever. From little Reaver and Jadis to Nektas to Aios and all of the other gods and goddess we only knew by name until this series. I love them and I really enjoyed seeing how much they all cared for each other.
Born of Blood and Ash was a wild journey. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I ranted and screamed to myself about how I wanted to have words with Jennifer over a few things, and ultimately I loved it and the tiny open doors left for future questions and possibilities. I hated saying goodbye as I always do at the end of an amazing series but it has me even more excited (and a little worried) to see how it all truly wraps up in the last Blood and Ash book.
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
slow-paced
My least favorite of the series. Which is disappointing since it’s the last book.
First, truly too long. There was a lot that could have been cut without losing substance. Sera, who I have truly loved as a FMC really struggled to get a grip. And while I can appreciate her journey from trauma to healing, being inside her head was exhausting. It was a book full of planning and the peak conflict was the last 10% and felt rushed.
The overlapping storylines with blood and ash and the absolute unending amount of info and context is honestly confusing. It’s hard to keep everything between the two books straight. What’s interesting though is I truly liked this series more (until this book) but now feel compelled to reread blood and ash. While I liked that series I feel like I’ll like it even more now with full context from the prequel.
Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I wouldn’t read these in publication order. I’d just read the prequel series first and then blood and ash. Looking forward to rereading BAA and taking away a ton of things I’m sure I missed the first time through.
First, truly too long. There was a lot that could have been cut without losing substance. Sera, who I have truly loved as a FMC really struggled to get a grip. And while I can appreciate her journey from trauma to healing, being inside her head was exhausting. It was a book full of planning and the peak conflict was the last 10% and felt rushed.
The overlapping storylines with blood and ash and the absolute unending amount of info and context is honestly confusing. It’s hard to keep everything between the two books straight. What’s interesting though is I truly liked this series more (until this book) but now feel compelled to reread blood and ash. While I liked that series I feel like I’ll like it even more now with full context from the prequel.
Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I wouldn’t read these in publication order. I’d just read the prequel series first and then blood and ash. Looking forward to rereading BAA and taking away a ton of things I’m sure I missed the first time through.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Really torn between 3 & 4 ⭐️
Adored Attes, Nektas, Jadis, Reaver and the ensemble of characters that we got more of in this book.
I felt it was about 200-300 pages too long.
FAR too many internal monologues about Sera’s anxiety and the lack of communication / miscommunication trope is one of my least favorites to read.
The constant spicy scenes actually started to irritate me. It detracted from their chemistry and the main plot (if you can believe that).
I don’t feel satisfied at the ending, but I guess it’s because their whole story really hasn’t finished, it just picks back up with Poppy now. There are still MANY unanswered questions which I hope will be covered through Poppy’s story.
Overall I feel it’s anticlimactic and I didn’t care enough about any of the characters except Attes
Adored Attes, Nektas, Jadis, Reaver and the ensemble of characters that we got more of in this book.
I felt it was about 200-300 pages too long.
FAR too many internal monologues about Sera’s anxiety and the lack of communication / miscommunication trope is one of my least favorites to read.
The constant spicy scenes actually started to irritate me. It detracted from their chemistry and the main plot (if you can believe that).
I don’t feel satisfied at the ending, but I guess it’s because their whole story really hasn’t finished, it just picks back up with Poppy now. There are still MANY unanswered questions which I hope will be covered through Poppy’s story.
Overall I feel it’s anticlimactic and I didn’t care enough about any of the characters except Attes