If that had been the beginning of the book that would’ve been one thing, but I just feel so let down that it was the entire book. And so, he does. He reminds Poppy how their journey began, revealing things about himself that only Kieran knows in the process. But it’s anybody’s guess what she’ll wake to or exactly how much of the realm and Cas will have changed when she does.

A Soul of Ash and Blood | Blood and Ash Wiki | Fandom A Soul of Ash and Blood | Blood and Ash Wiki | Fandom

On one hand, I really love Cas, Kieran, and Delano, and I was happy to get more of them. I also loved seeing Cas’ side of the budding romance between Poppy and him and seeing the conflicted feelings and the angst he was living with. Overall, he felt more vulnerable in this book, which made him more likable to me. The beginning and the ending of the book were also great, and now I am very excited for the next book to come out. We got the latter in the last book and the former in this book. Poppy is in stasis completing her Culling after becoming the Primal of Blood and Bone (Life and Death). Nektas recommends that Cas talks to her so when she wakes up she remembers who she is as well as those around her. This is what starts off the retelling of From Blood and Ash from Cas’s POV. He doesn’t go into the events of the other books. Just the first one as they wait for her to wake up, which takes around two days if my understanding of time passing through the present chapters is accurate. I should’ve seen this coming when Cas started having chapters in the previous book. Usually, authors do that for one of two reasons: i love Casteel Da'Neer and he ist one of JLA's best male lead for sure, but unfortunately this series has run it's course. if JLA would've published this book after A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire or The ​Crown of Gilded Bones, i would've gobbled it down cuz Casteel supremacy and all. but after The War of Two Queens and the drama surrounding it, my excitement for this series is not how it used to be. i'll keep reading this series bc i want to see how it all ends, but JLA should've ended this series as a trilogy...

Captivating and action-packed, From Blood and Ash is a sexy, addictive, and unexpected fantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Laura Thalassa.

Casteel’s POV was my favorite so far. The fan favorite scenes like the Blood Forest and the Willow tree were amazing. However, in my opinion, the true bright part of this book was reading about Casteel and Kieran’s conversations and friendship before Poppy and Cas were truly together. Kieran and Casteel’s interactions were the best part. Their friendship is just so normal, relatable, and sweet, and their banter had me laughing out loud. There was also a spicy Kieran scene where Kieran is having sex with a descenter at the Red Pearl while Casteel is just casually in the same room having a conversation with him. Not sure if others are against that, but I personally loved it and thought it was hot because Kieran is my sweetie. I thought Kieran and Casteel's personalities both really shone in this book.

A Soul of Ash and Blood: A Blood and Ash Novel - USA TODAY A Soul of Ash and Blood: A Blood and Ash Novel - USA TODAY

Besides, Malik and Millicent make an appearance in this book as well. They aren't active in Casteel's storytelling, of course, but appear in the present. Both are fascinating characters, not just individually, but as a pair as well. There isn't enough information on what happened between them that is keeping them apart, other than Malik trying to kill Poppy that is, but they are heartmates and I want them to be together. It is a bit funny to me that Casteel and Malik, two brothers, fell in love with Poppy and Millie, two sisters, but it isn't unheard of and doesn't bother me at all. I am fully invested in both Malik and Millie's relationship with each other and the relationship they have with their respective siblings. If their relationships aren't solidified by the end of the series there will be protests. Fair warning: I can be incredibly annoying!

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This is further alluded to when Cas shifts into a cave cat and recognises Kieran as his saying "mine". whereas with Emil, he just wanted to kill him. Damn, my little marshmallow's getting kinda crispy'' Delano being referred to as marshmallow made me happy. He is unable to process who he is while in that form, but he knows Poppy is his and destroys the Rev A great primal power has risen. The Queen of Flesh and Fire has become the Primal of Blood and Bone-the true Primal of Life and Death. And the battle Casteel, Poppy, and their allies have been fighting has only just begun. Gods are awakening across Iliseeum and the mortal realm, readying for the war to come.

A Soul of Ash and Blood - The Blue Box Press A Soul of Ash and Blood - The Blue Box Press

We won't know the conclusion to FBAA (Poppy/Cas) until spring/summer 2024 but we will get the compendium in February so that should hold me over after F&F 3! ASOAAB is all from Cas's POV. We a few ''present'' chapters that are concerning the current situation after TWOTQ but most of this book mainly focuses on FBAA finding out what he was up to while he is away from Poppy and how his plans and plots came to be. Along with many reveals. And so, he does. He reminds Poppy how their journey began, revealing things about himself that only Kieran knows in the process. But it’s anybody’s guess what she’ll wake to or exactly how much of the realm and Cas will have changed when she does. Book DetailsThere were a few chapters set in the present, meaning right after the events of The War of Two Queens, and I was happy to know what happened to Ires, Millie, and Malik. It was also good that Cas and Malik finally got some time to sit and talk, they needed it so much because there were so many conflicted feelings and so much tension and unease between them in The War of Two Queens. Overall though, those chapters represent only about 15% of the book: 10% at the beginning, and 5% here and there in between Cas’ remembering the events from the first book. Now, that ending. THAT ENDING. My gosh it has made me so excited for the next one. Cas being able to syphon off some of Poppy’s primal power? The shifting??? Ah, brilliant. I hope Poppy learns to shift swiftly otherwise Cas is never gonna hear the end of it, I’m sure. BUT ALSO, I have a feeling that there’s more to Cas than we realise too, and maybe it’s not just syphoning Poppy’s power?? Because at the start Nektas seemed to be hinting that Cas’ ancestor is still around, possibly waking up along with everyone else so, maybe he’s actually got a god in his line or something? Ah I’m not sure, but there’s definitely more to it than we’ve been lead to believe so far I think! this book brought absolutely nothing new to the table. A Soul of Ash and Blood is basically 98% the retelling of the events of book 1 from Cas' POV with a handful of Present chapters where he talks to Poppy while she is asleep/in a coma. it was cute to see Cas' devotion to Poppy and how he started to fall in love with her tho. I did enjoy revisiting FBAA, it reignited the love for these characters I started to feel let down by. We forget how swoon worthy the romance between Poppy and Cas was 🥺 To see Cas go through that angst was PERFECT 🤌 I fell in love with them and Cas again 😍 This story is a retell, that is not quite a retell, of From Blood and Ash from the male main character’s point of view, Prince Casteel Hawkthrone Da’Neer. He is the Prince of Atlantia, the Dark One, and the Maiden’s personal guard who has been plotting to free his brother from the Ascended for the past 100 years. He planned to kidnap the Maiden and use her as ransom…..until plans changed.

From Blood and Ash - Jennifer L. Armentrout From Blood and Ash - Jennifer L. Armentrout

While I did really enjoy it, I also really wanted more of them trying to get the people of Solis on their side, dealing with the revenants, finding Jadis, etc. Not to mention, there’s a new ability briefly explored at the end, which I totally want Poppy’s reaction to. Especially as it’s something she’s wanted ever since finding out that she wasn’t mortal. But we have to wait for all of that for the sixth and (potentially) final book of the series. If you are familiar with the series, then you know all about his captivity, but we never truly got to experience first-hand just how much those years he has been held got to him and how deep they ran within him. Those moments really made my heart shatter into a million pieces. How he spoke about what he did to dull the pain, even if temporarily, touched some part of me that I never knew could be reached and what he did to silence the voices, to turn it off.. there are truly no words, or maybe there are too many, but it just hit close. Hearing him talk about how he thought of himself, even still to this day... how they still find him in the silence… But that is the thing with trauma, isn’t it? It creeps up on you, no matter how much time has passed, no matter how much you want to forget. That broke me.Why did I just now read this book? I really wish I would have gotten it sooner, but at the same time, it was perfection, so I'm not really sure if I'm okay that I had to wait for it. As I mentioned, this book is like reuniting with an old friend. To see Kieran through his eyes was incredible. How much he has continuously been there for him and will always be there for him and not just because of the bond truly did something to my eyes. How he was always able to centre him and ground him even when there were no words spoken was beyond.