My Descent into Madness:A 'From Blood and Ash' Review📚💫
It wasn't unusual that I didn't want to leave the book alone, nor was it strange I'd spend most of the hours I normally used to slumber to read the piece of literature. I had no desire to go back. I didn't want to go back to reality,where everything seemed so complex and exhausting. I wanted to be were I was, the world of fiction. I wanted my eyes staring at the letters they were looking at and my mind in an entirely different world. I was obsessed. Literally and figuratively. It has been a while since I was this captivated by a book. I was constantly thinking about it when I wasn't reading it,I was dreaming about it and fantasizing too.
From Blood and Ash is a mythological fiction fantasy and thriller book written by Jennifer Armentrout. It's the first book in the ongoing series,Blood and Ash. The book revolves around a female character, Penellaphe Balfour. Penellaphe is 18 years old,lives amongst the ascended and she is a representative of the gods to the people of Solis. The queen's favourite. The maiden. The chosen.
As the maiden, Poppy is well protected and untouched,in all ways possible,veiled and kept hidden. She is banned from most things people her age are allowed to do;which involves socializing,going to school,reading books other than history books. She is a symbol of purity and hope for her people who live under the fear of the creatures known as the Craven. The Craven are monstrous creatures created by the actions of the Ascended. The Ascended are the ones who rule over Solis.
Penellaphe is unaware of all these and has been blinded about what the Ascended really were. This changed when she met Hawke Flynn.
Her new Royal guard is called Hawke Flynn and has resumed his duties after the immediate loss of her former one due to the attack of an Atlantian. An atlantian are supposedly the ones who created the Craven with their poisonous kiss. Lies told by the Ascended to soiled the minds of the people of Solis and make them turn against and hate the Atlantians of Atlantia,the once fallen kingdom,after the war of the two kings.
Penellaphe's world flips from worst to better? She wasn't sure. But now, she is aware of what the Ascended really are and what they did to the mortals living in Solis. Innocent people. She was recoiled and thought herself stupid for not seeing it earlier. But one couldn't blame someone who has been raised by the Queen of the Ascended herself since she was a babe. The queen had always been there after the incident between her parents and what led to the permanent scars on her face and body. So she was oblivious of the whole situation and things the Ascended stood for and did.
Her only confidant and companion now, is Hawke Flynn who becomes a significant figure in her life. Although, Hawke isn't just a guard. He also has his own secret motive and eventually causes Penellaphe pain.
Now,I could keep going and going but I don't want to go too deep and spoil the book. Whilst reading this book I felt... different. At one point, I started speaking like the characters in the book spoke and made up a lot of scenarios in my head. One would say I was low-key going crazy. I loved and lived for the entertainment. I wasn't sleeping properly anymore cause I was obsessed with the thrill,the feeling of want and desperation that fueled Poppy's journey, her relentless pursuit of freedom, and her all-consuming passion for Hawke. The Blood and Ash book had taken over my every waking thought, and I found myself longing for the next installment, the next revelation, and the next heart-stopping moment. I specifically loved Jennifer's writing style..I loved her description throughout the entire book. I loved the main character and although I'm not a fan of books relating to vampires and werewolves,this one hit different. It was quite spectacular. I can roughly remember the first werewolf book I read on Wattpad, Alpha Loren. I think @seki recommended it to me then five years ago. And the first vampire book I read should be roses for Rachel. I haven't really read a book with the both of them as a mix and although this one was my first,it was spectacular. And no,the werewolves and vampires aren't the main characters or main ideal of the story. They just serve as the building brick to something gorgeous and absolutely stunning. I can't even lie or try to underrate this book even if I tried. I genuinely loved it. I loved it so much.
I loved everything about it. We're talking about the romance between Hawke and Poppy,the thrilling suspense, the world building and mythology,the twists and the characters development,which is still in process because apparently, it's part of a book series and this is just the first book. It has four other books extra and I am seated and sat!
Now, I'd like to give the book my ratings and blessings. I'd start with rating it on a scale of 1-10 and my answer to that would be an 8.5 to almost a 9. And then I'd continue with the five stars rating and I would give it 4.5 stars.
Thanks for reading. I genuinely hope you try it out as I've already made two of my friends to read it with me;)
Fact that @teknon reviewed a book by the same author...
This is something I can get behind...
Just finished the last book of Stormlight Archives and I'm looking for a new bedtime story 😃✨
Bedtime story? I would take that as an insult to this book. This is no bedtime story Mr Seki!😠
Yenyenyen 😂😭
This seems like a very interesting novel 🤔 I do enjoy these kinds of fantasy novels, but unfortunately I have read so many that many have become cliches 😩
However, I will say I enjoy the names of the characters, especially the spelling of Penellaphe/Penelope. I find it funny the name Poppy is included, I'm about to write a post involving that flower 😄
Thank you for sharing this review! The cover definitely looks intriguing as well, very gothic, I like that aesthetic...
No offense, but I pray I never reach this level. I want to drown myself in fantasy books.
And yeah,it was really funny they used the short form "Poppy" in her name. It's probably because of the other reasons people acquire it,can be an addictive drugs.
There was this quote in the book,relating penellaphe to the flower cause it was pretty and dangerous at the same time. Personally,I think the reference was beautiful and really really smart. Although I did find the nickname cringe sometimes,I loved the authors mind and sense of creativity. She is too good! And needs all the fan service in the world. Although I want her stuff popular,at the same time I don't. Cause once it reached booktok and bookstagram,it won't be so fun to read anymore. I'm glad,I keep on getting books like these before they become really popular. Same thing that happened with The Cruel prince.
So, it is a vampire book? I see why. Vampires are such sexy creatures. Congratulations and welcome back from your book hiatus😉
No, it's not a vampire book. It's really not. I don't know what it is but it's a mix of mythological creatures plus a dash of vampires and werewolves but they do not overcrowd the story and it's not based on them,not at all. They're just building blocks.
I can tell that you got completely caught up in it! It's great when a book makes us forget reality and immerses us in its world, isn't it...sounds like an exciting adventure, especially with that mix of mythology and romance.
Trust me Jess,this book was good!
I can't even lie to make it seem bad even if I tried🥲
It's a wonderful book, I experienced everything just like you and had to stop because I was so obsessed. I took it up again a year later to become obsessed again. Hahaha.
Oh my goodness! I am glad you know what I was feeling first hand. Honestly,it was an amazing book and what's even great is that it's just too good and extremely lengthy. You can get lost in it with no will to ever be found.