A review by storykeeper_saga
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout

dark emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.5

This book has exactly one thing over From Blood and Ash. It felt like shit actually happened. Was any of it good? No. Not in the slightest. I have no clue what's going on at the end of the second book in this series. This is a cash grab, and you can not convince me otherwise. By the time you reach the end of a second book in a series, you should know who the antagonist is and why they are the antagonist. You should have a general idea of the world the main character came from. The major players of the story should have all made an appearance, and you should have a pretty good idea of the trajectory of the plot. Instead, we get Poppy, the most special Special Girl who was ever special and Queen Ileana, who is the antagonist but has never actually appeared on page, and I frankly don't know if she ever will be.

Also, if anyone happens to see this. This book should have a trigger warning for SA. The way Casteel treats Poppy's consent is awful. On that, I hate their relationship. It isn't even well developed enough to call toxic. It doesn't make any sense why these two are so deeply in love. Poppy should hate him. And no, I do not accept the "explanation" provided in the story. 

The worldbuilding is as shallow as a glass of water you spilled on your kitchen floor at 3am. Throwing in random details does not a well-built fantasy world make. 

If anyone was wondering, there are 604 ellipsis in this book. Yes, I counted so my numbers could be slightly off.
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