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adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Yikes! This book was simply not good. This gets more than a one star because like, at least I was slightly entertained by the hate-read and the reading went by fast, but here's everything wrong with this piece of work:
- horrific worldbuilding, told mainly in exposition dumps, that left me so confused
- the only two characters of color being named Tawny and Kieran (which means black in Irish). fuck outta here with that
- a stupid main character who lacks any sort of critical thinking skills
- predictable plot twist
- honeydew
- dubious consent
- terrible writing and a few grammatical and syntactical mistakes in the published book
- I was at least promised some spice to make my reading worthwhile and apart from the first scene, the first time we got any of that was page 440 of a 600 page book. liars.
- and so much more! i simply cannot be bothered to waste any more of my time or proverbial breath on this thing.
I beg you to skip over this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Blood, Murder
Minor: Torture, Kidnapping, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This took me a while (for me) to read because it just wasn't doing it for me. I wasn't drawn to the characters, the plot, or even the romance. The world building was confusing, but it did start to make some sense by the end. I could see the big reveal of the male MC a mile away. The writing was repetitive (we get it, he has dimples) and it was too descriptive at times, making the book longer than needed.
I haven't heard good things about the rest of the series, so I don't think I'll continue. I'll probably spoil the rest of it. I never felt myself get invested, and I feel that's important to continue a series, especially with lengthy books such as this one.
I haven't heard good things about the rest of the series, so I don't think I'll continue. I'll probably spoil the rest of it. I never felt myself get invested, and I feel that's important to continue a series, especially with lengthy books such as this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Better late than never
Also Keiran ❤️
Also Keiran ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Medical content, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Sexual harassment
adventurous
medium-paced
The romance aspect of this book was really good, I loved how Hawke cared for Poppy in a situation no one tried to stand-up for her. The romantic dialogue and sexual tension was also good.
However, I did not like Poppy as a narrator. Her inner monologues were extensive and repetitive.
The plot twists were okay, you could see them coming but they weren't terrible.
It was more violent than I expected when it was recommended by a friend who only talked about the romance, so be aware of the trigger warnings.
However, I did not like Poppy as a narrator. Her inner monologues were extensive and repetitive.
The plot twists were okay, you could see them coming but they weren't terrible.
It was more violent than I expected when it was recommended by a friend who only talked about the romance, so be aware of the trigger warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fear and bravery are often one and the same. It either makes you a warrior or a coward. The only difference is the person it resides inside.
My only regret at this moment is the fact that I only bought this first book back in the day. Not wanting to buy the next one at the same time because if I didn't like this, I wouldn't need it. And now I am in agony because this book ends in such and annoying CLIFFHANGER!
I tend to put every highly hyped book in the back burner to wait. All the hype usually just gets me to a point where I have unrealistic expectations and it always ends up in a disappointment. I waited with From Blood and Ash and I think it was totally worth it. Yes, this is still a very recommended book around booktok but I think the hype has calmed down significantly.
The characters kind of remind me of Armentrout's other characters. And I love them! Whilst reading, I have made only one note. That's all I could do to tear myself away from it. And that note only has characters names with different emojis next to them. And let me tell you, the Duke's and Lord Mazeen's emoji lists aren't that nice and short.
Hawke only needs one emoji, which I can't put here since it looks way different on my laptop, lol. But boy could I be a damsel in distress too! I would like to go barge into people's room just in hopes to meet Hawke. He is an ass very much too. But I love him with all my heart and he does have his resons.
POPPY! Poppy needs nothing else but a crown because she is <i>the queen</i>. She's kept like a house pet. You can go out when someone takes you. But boy if you go anywhere with other people or dare to speak with them.. And still she has such spirits! She is sassy, spicy, loving, caring. She deserves the world.
Vikter, love him very much. We might not see eye to eye with everything but I still love him so very much.
Lord Mazeen and Duke. I don't think I've hated characters this much in a long time. Like so much I wanted to physically hurt them or at least kick something. Even talking about them makes my blood boil.
Even though I managed to spoil myself, before I started reading, about one character, I still loved the book. The plot is pretty predictable from the start, at least regarding who is who and what is their agenda. I still loved this book. I still kept doubting myself and my ability to 'predict' what happens in the book. And boy did I find myself hoping that some things would not happen!
From Blood and Ash had some twists and turns that I wasn't necessary waiting to happen. Something, sure, but not that. The reader is thrown through every emotion basically. It is a rollercoaster of stuff happening. One second you're reading smut perhaps, and next you're crying like a baby. For example about the emotions.
I cried. I cried at work because I had to use my breaks to continue reading, and I cried. When there's no one else who reads books, it is very hard to try and explain why you cry for a book character. But this book managed to make me cry. I don't think I can never forgive what Armentrout did to some of them,
But I also went through butterflies in my stomach, joy, warmth, anger, frustration, everything. This book definitely absorbed me into it completely.
All in all this was a rollercoaster of emotions. This was a rollercoaster of events. So much happened yet it still wasn't overwhelming. So many characters but it is easy to stay on track with who is who and where they came from. I waited a day before writing this review, thinking my mind would have calmed down, but I think it still hasn't gotten over this book and it is just a mess that keeps on thinking 100 different things about the book at the same time. But I need the next book. I hate when books end with cliffhangers like that!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Death, Blood
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fear and bravery are often one and the same. It either makes you a warrior or a coward. The only difference is the person it resides inside.
This book has problems - serious problems. I am not entirely sure how the questionable relationship at the heart of this book could have been given the Best Romance award for 2020, just as I am also not entirely sure why I read it, but here we are: people love this book and I've read it, just barely.
I cannot say that this book is bad in the slightest; it was entertaining, the world it was set in was complex and interesting, Poppy was a very likeable character, and (once we got through half of the book) we got a lot of action - plot-wise and otherwise. However, this is where my issues stem from. This romance was cringy at best and abusive and manipulative at worst. I really started to hate Poppy when her emotions oscillated between love and hate, loyalty and betrayal. After being so blatantly lied to and used, I would not put up with any boy, no matter how pretty his eyes were and how nice he smelled. I'm sorry if that isn't romantic.
I am also so over the abused yet strong main character in YA / New Adult fantasy novels. Having as much power and spirit as Poppy did would be near impossible in the abusive environment she was in and, if she truly was as powerful as the novel suggests, surely she would have stood up for herself sooner. In addition to that, who can forget about the whole pure Maiden side plot (yes, side plot because - let's be honest - the smut is the main plot)? I am not a fan; constant discussions of "naughty" acts, being "inappropriate" and just sexual relationships, in general, do not a fantasy novel make, though they certainly make the word count.
Now, I know that my mediocre experience is an anomaly here. If a dark, dystopian fantasy with a huge emphasis on romance, death and all your typical tropes (vampires, werewolves, a mysterious dark prince from another land, etc.) sounds like a good time for you, this book is worth a shot. Armentrout's writing is very readable due to its almost stream-of-consciousness quality with a sprinkling of very quotable lines throughout is nothing to complain about. I may give her other series a shot for this reason; I just hope there will be no mention of "honeydew", that was a choice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Sexism, Kidnapping, Grief
Minor: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Like many others here, I agree that the beginning was a slog to get through and the pace picks up in the last quarter of the book. And Poppy's inner dialogue gets a bit "Come on, let's move along" sometimes.
The story and mystery was enough to keep me hooked and I do love Hawke. I knew about the twisty twist because of spoilers but not knowing the full extent, the pay off was still worth it.
I'm not in love with Poppy (yet?) but the banter with her and Hawke is DELIGHTFUL.
The story and mystery was enough to keep me hooked and I do love Hawke. I knew about the twisty twist because of spoilers but not knowing the full extent, the pay off was still worth it.
I'm not in love with Poppy (yet?) but the banter with her and Hawke is DELIGHTFUL.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Sexual assault