I love the change in direction from JLA with this high fantasy!
From Blood and Ash #1
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
What they say: Captivating and action-packed, From Blood and Ash is an addictive and unexpected fantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Laura Thalassa.
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.
What I say: A JLA high fantasy, what's not to love?! Imagine all the usual JLA wit, inspiring and hilarious heroine, infuriating but awesome hero with bundles of swagger, combined with some pretty outstanding world building and you haven't even started to delve into From Blood and Ash!
Reading the blurb I wasn't sure I'd like Poppy because lets be honest a trapped Maiden has the potential to be annoying and whiny, but luckily JLA has us covered and Poppy is brilliantly witty and kinda bad ass from the start. She's extremely loyal and I loved her rebellious side.
Hawke has everything a JLA hero should have, in that he's snarky, fierce, confident, and oh so swoon worthy. He's also kind and protective and is hiding vulnerability and a broken past. I certainly wouldn't mess with him.
It's a high fantasy so we get lots of detail about the location and battles. I could picture a certain dagger and almost hear the battle cries across the Rise. Eye roll to the Duke!
I loved the world building. I've read several stories including a variety of versions of the Atlantian myth but this is something different. We have the Ascended, the Craven, the Descenters, the Gods and Poppy!
Twists, turns and betrayals keep Poppy and the reader guessing and oh the ENDING!!!
5 Stars in my Sky!
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