Scan barcode
A review by lostlenore_
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
5.0
MOOOORE, GIVE ME MOOORE, GIVE ME MOOORE.....UGHHHHH!
This book made me believe again in fast-paced new adult books with strong female heroines and unique character flaws! I devoured this 600ish page book in almost ten days and I've even ditched some of my work to read through it.
While the book started a bit slower than expected with lots of info dumps about worldbuilding, something that I don't like at all, the heroine's voice grew on me as well as her struggles and conflicts. The needs/wants were perfectly clear and relatable and Poppy is one of those heroines that I will never forget. Her endurance and her pain are hauntingly described and her aspirations of becoming something more are universal among everyone.
What I loved about this book was the very nice storyline in the sense of the way the inciting incidents, catalysts, midpoint, and climax were set. The author is a great plotter and knows how to plot exactly each point and what kind of conflict to create to steer this point to a conclusion. The midpoint was a fantastic conglomeration of inner and external conflict, raising the stakes higher and making the heroine facing impossible choices. She literally was in a gutter and not able to look at the stars.
The 'Enemies to Lovers' and 'Opposites Attract' tropes were greatly interwoven with the character reactions and the hot steamy love that covered almost half of the book was unforgettable.
So many feelings about this book that make it a true rollercoaster of emotions. I didn't like so much the worldbuilding per see (because it was a bit predictable) and I really did guess almost all of the third act after the midpoint, but you know what? If you have compelling characters which are story-worthy and relatable and fun to read, I can definitely bypass some cliches which are being used by YA and NA authors. It's the reason why the genre has survived for so many years!
This book made me believe again in fast-paced new adult books with strong female heroines and unique character flaws! I devoured this 600ish page book in almost ten days and I've even ditched some of my work to read through it.
While the book started a bit slower than expected with lots of info dumps about worldbuilding, something that I don't like at all, the heroine's voice grew on me as well as her struggles and conflicts. The needs/wants were perfectly clear and relatable and Poppy is one of those heroines that I will never forget. Her endurance and her pain are hauntingly described and her aspirations of becoming something more are universal among everyone.
What I loved about this book was the very nice storyline in the sense of the way the inciting incidents, catalysts, midpoint, and climax were set. The author is a great plotter and knows how to plot exactly each point and what kind of conflict to create to steer this point to a conclusion. The midpoint was a fantastic conglomeration of inner and external conflict, raising the stakes higher and making the heroine facing impossible choices. She literally was in a gutter and not able to look at the stars.
The 'Enemies to Lovers' and 'Opposites Attract' tropes were greatly interwoven with the character reactions and the hot steamy love that covered almost half of the book was unforgettable.
So many feelings about this book that make it a true rollercoaster of emotions. I didn't like so much the worldbuilding per see (because it was a bit predictable) and I really did guess almost all of the third act after the midpoint, but you know what? If you have compelling characters which are story-worthy and relatable and fun to read, I can definitely bypass some cliches which are being used by YA and NA authors. It's the reason why the genre has survived for so many years!