A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire is book two in the world-renowned Blood and Ash series by author Jennifer L. Jennifer L. Armentraut, author of “Lust and Flesh”. Between the pages and Poppy’s story, I went through many conflicting emotions, from shock to shock to satisfaction.
Book Review: A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
- Series: Blood and Ash Book #2
- Author. Jennifer L. Armentraut
- 637 pages, Kindle EditionPublished
- September 1, 2020 by Blue Box Press
Where book #1 ended
We find ourselves back where Blood and Ash ended. Poppy has fallen in love with the Dark One and is desperately trying to get over her heartbreak and convince herself that she doesn’t have feelings for Prince Casteel. The protagonist is no longer the shriveled virgin and is slowly beginning to break out of the mold the Ascended intended for her. Poppy’s closure is obvious. She refuses to be the victim, to be protected and to hide behind the backs of the powerful. She’s determined to take her life and her decisions into her own hands and follow the path she has chosen for herself. Armentraut confronts her with a multitude of inner conflicts that underline the main thread of the plot, namely self-discovery and the right to freedom. I think the author has a talent for putting her characters through trials, and not just physical ones.
Casteel is the prince charming. The bad boy of the story who will undoubtedly capture the heart of any reader. His relationship with Poppy is torn between the two opposites. The strong attraction between the two is undeniable, but their future plans aren’t nearly as compatible. The addition of the third character, Kieran, in their relationship leads to some humorous scenes. The wolfman will definitely play a big role as the story progresses.
The theme of impossible love between enemies is one of the main themes in the book’s plot. The circumstances under which Poppy and Hawke come together are constantly called into question. The distrust between them combined with the secrets the two keep from each other leads us away from the idea of a happy ending. And since Armentrout has a knack for surprising us in the final chapters, you can be sure that will happen in this book too.
Spicy and dynamic – A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire is even more outrageously spicy than Blood and Ash. Armentraut builds the tension along the sexual attraction between Casteel and Poppy, and it doesn’t let up until the end. It’s way too much for me personally, but combined with the dynamics of the plot, I was somehow able to swallow it. Jennifer L. Armentraut is very descriptive in the romantic moments and at times I found myself asking, “Why am I doing this to myself?” The curiosity to find out who was what at the end never left me.
Armentraut has created a very colorful world with fantastic creatures. There is no shortage of magic in this story. It takes a while to figure out who has to drink whose blood and what happens then, but eventually you get the hang of it. I usually have a lot of trouble with books that involve vampires and drinking blood, and I won’t hide the fact that I sometimes felt a certain revulsion. It’s just not my…
The author’s writing style has its own charm. Armentraut knows how to develop her characters and definitely has an enviable imagination when it comes to her worlds. The book is dynamic and there is no shortage of suspenseful moments to keep the reader’s attention, and yet almost nothing happens in the story. The only reason my rating isn’t as high is because the main characters were naked for 70% of the book. I felt like A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire was more of a novella to the series than a full-fledged sequel to Blood and Ash.
“The Crown of Gilded Bones” Book #3
A Betrayal…
Everything Poppy has ever believed in is a lie, including the man she was falling in love with. Thrust among those who see her as a symbol of a monstrous kingdom, she barely knows who she is without the veil of the Maiden. But what she does know is that nothing is as dangerous to her as him. The Dark One. The Prince of Atlantia. He wants her to fight him, and that’s one order she’s more than happy to obey. He may have taken her, but he will never have her.
A Choice…
Casteel Da’Neer is known by many names and many faces. His lies are as seductive as his touch. His truths as sensual as his bite. Poppy knows better than to trust him. He needs her alive, healthy, and whole to achieve his goals. But he’s the only way for her to get what she wants—to find her brother Ian and see for herself if he has become a soulless Ascended. Working with Casteel instead of against him presents its own risks. He still tempts her with every breath, offering up all she’s ever wanted. Casteel has plans for her. Ones that could expose her to unimaginable pleasure and unfathomable pain. Plans that will force her to look beyond everything she thought she knew about herself—about him. Plans that could bind their lives together in unexpected ways that neither kingdom is prepared for. And she’s far too reckless, too hungry, to resist the temptation.
A Secret…
But unrest has grown in Atlantia as they await the return of their Prince. Whispers of war have become stronger, and Poppy is at the very heart of it all. The King wants to use her to send a message. The Descenters want her dead. The wolven are growing more unpredictable. And as her abilities to feel pain and emotion begin to grow and strengthen, the Atlantians start to fear her. Dark secrets are at play, ones steeped in the blood-drenched sins of two kingdoms that would do anything to keep the truth hidden. But when the earth begins to shake, and the skies start to bleed, it may already be too late.
