Title: From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Genre(s): fantasy, romance, paranormal

Publication: March 30, 2020

Length: 634

Description:

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. (from Goodreads)

Apparently this book was a stealth/surprise release from Armentrout and her publisher. No one knew it was coming, it just suddenly showed up as available on its release day. No prior promo, nothing. At the time I purchased it, I was unaware of that but it popped up in my recommendations and sounded good so into the cart it went.

I’ve never read an Armentrout before but so many readers speak highly of her work. While I have been slowly migrating away from the “fantasy kingdom in peril” storylines I can’t help but feel like this one could be different. God, I hope it is different.

Have you seen and read this book yet? What did you think? I’m hoping to start on it soon. Hopefully…if this epic reading slump would just leave me alone already. Have a lovely day, everyone!