by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Book: Blood and
Ash #1
Publisher: Blue Box Press
Pub Date: March 30, 2020
Genre: New Adult
Format: Print
Source: Owned
Book Links: Goodreads Amazon
A Maiden…
Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s
life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be
touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience
pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the
guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found
worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.
A Duty…
The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s
shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a
Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed
guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty
become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question
everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden.
A Kingdom…
Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a
fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe
is theirs through violence and vengeance. And as the shadow of those cursed
draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes
blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found
unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that
holds her world together begins to unravel.
My Review: Yes, I finally got to this
series and boy was it worth the wait. You really shouldn't let this book sit on
your TBR for too long!
Poppy is the chosen one, the maiden. She is to be the proper lady
that is expected of her until the day of her ascension. Abide by all rules, but
also experience next to nothing that many other ladies her age get to. And
falling in love? A huge nope.
So what does she do? She's damn skilled with a sword and fights
along with the guards...oops! All in secret of course. But does it ever get
out? Eventually, it does and man were those scenes something!
But then Hawke, the royal guard appears and well things just take
a twist from there. He's just different. He can go from taking orders and
quickly putting them on pause to just make sure you're kay first. Like hello,
dream boy right here! Together they fight, tease, laugh, etc. Truly an enjoyable
couple to read about.
The loss and struggles throughout this book was great, but that ending will leave you wanting, no, needing to tear into the second book right away!
