From Blood and Ash by Jennifer Armentrout- Gush

Hello! Ya'll already know how much I love Jen and her writing, although I was slightly disappointed with the Wicked trilogy, I saw so many good reviews for this book that I had to try it! And, let me just say I was NOT disappointed.

This book is written in a very unique setting, this is post World War between two kingdoms, the Ascended, that go through a ritual called Ascension to make them god-like, with immortal qualities, such as enhanced abilities and beauty, as well as slow aging. Hundreds of years ago there were the ones called the Atlantians also known as Descenters, who were also considered the Dark One's followers (who is the Prince of the Atlantians). But, because of the brutal war between the two kingdoms they are thought to be gone, the only remnant is the Craven, their creation, that live in the Mist along the Blood Forest, that have an uncontrollable thirst for..blood. Yes, so this is a vampire based book with Craven, wolven, and vampry, which puts a new twist on the modern view of what a vampire is.

The main character is Penellaphe "Poppy" who is a fearless, witty, yet caged, and controlled young woman famously known for being the Maiden throughout this world. Because she was, "born in the shroud of the gods, protected even inside the womb, veiled from birth". She is destined to live a life of servitude and isolation until her Ascension on her nineteenth birthday.

That is, until she meets Hawke in one of her adventures of sneaking off, and he changes her in ways she never thought possible, and extremely inappropriate for a Maiden. This book is FILLED with beautiful scenes that seem to jump from the pages, heart-pounding action, betrayals and plot twists, but also the metamorphosis of a young girl, suppressed of living since she was born.

SPOILERS

THIS BOOK! This damn book will be the death of me!!

Although the beginning is a little slow and confusing, once the story picks up its pace, AKA once Hawke becomes Poppy's personal guard, that's when the book becomes absolutely enchanting. I couldn't put it down and when I did I would just sit there thinking about it! I thought the world-building was SO creative, the idea that a whole religion had been built around the Ascended while trying to be deemed worthy by the gods in order to go through the ritual. I KNEW the ascended were sketchy, I mean especially when the Craven would attack and they wouldn't help?? Knowing that people were going to die and that they were MUCH more powerful?? Didn't add up. And then the way they treated mortals was so ugly, I never liked them. Especially those assholes, The Duke and Lord Mazen.. that ONE scene, I was not sad to see him die.

It's just crazy how realistic this book is as well, from a history stand point. The Ascended took the real history and twisted it so much to the point that it became a religion, in which people believed to be truth. So people would willingly give up their children to the "gods" in fear of retribution, having no idea the Ascended would use them for their blood. It's sickening, but honestly I see it in the history of my own country. We don't want people to see the dark side of our history, so we change it. We romanticize it and glorify ourselves in the process, leaving out the parts of war, blood, and complete carnage and destruction. That's what we see here, the Ascended alienating the Atlantians from society, by making them the evil ones to fit their own agenda. Unbeknownst to the people. Honestly I'm team Atlantians at this point, and I'm SO excited to see what they're really like in the next book.

First off regarding characters, I KNEW Hawke was different!! The whole book Poppy would always point out little things like how he would move incredibly fast, and was super strong, and also godly level of handsome?? Yep, too good to be true. But, man, that PLOT TWIST!! Took me OUT! The fact that his whole purpose was to get close to Poppy, gain her trust and then basically kidnap her? Damn, that hurt. But, you already know he definitely fell for her for real, just like she had. I loved him as Hawke!! He was so caring and understanding, yet sarcastic and funny! But, I have a feeling I'll love him even more as Prince Casteel Da'Neer of Atlantia. You already know the morally grey, dark characters are my shit!! I just know there is SO MUCH to be discovered about him and his character, a lot to unload because I mean he was tortured by the Ascended for forty years... I'm ready to learn about and come to love and understand the REAL him.

My girl Penellaphe has to be one of my top favorite woman main characters, because damn, I LOVE HER! She was so prude, and innocent, but at the same time so fearless and just a whole bad-ass! Ugh, I loved how she felt about being the Maiden as well, she watched everyone get to really live while she stood on the outside, never able to engage in real life. She wasn't allowed to speak to anyone, to eat with anyone, couldn't even be in the room with anyone outside her guards or handmaiden, Tawny. Oh, and the fact that she had to veil her face EVERY time she stepped out of her room so that no one knew her true face. Poor girl, as someone who really values her freedoms, I felt so much sympathy for her. But, watching her overcome so much, and seeing her learn how to really defend herself so she would never feel helpless again, even though it was forbidden, perfect. I just admired her so much, she would break rules and go against everything she was taught, she never backed down from a challenge, she was so intelligent and naturally curious. UGH. Woman crush to be honest. And when Viktor dies and she goes absolutely feral and just kills Lord Mazen, who was also her abuser, YES MA'AM!! My fav character hands down. Such a well-written empowering young woman, who was also inexperienced and naive, making her feel human, but that's what made you love her.

Okay, now the juicy, ANGST romance that unravels throughout this book. Hawke and Poppy are just, wow I love them. The way they interacted and the way they just began to trust and unload a lot of their personal struggles to each other *chef's kiss*. The Maiden choosing to give him her virginity, knowing this could change her entire future, was so PURE. He literally says, "I know that I'm not a good enough man to remember my duty and yours or that I'm so incredibly unworthy of you that it should be a sin." Actual tears.

But, we find out towards the end that he isn't Hawke. He is the Dark One (he hates being called that though btw), the Prince of Atlantian, Casteel Da'Neer. Which, obviously changes everything. Poppy is rightfully devastated, especially finding out he was the reason that both her previous guards were killed, so that he would be able to step up and fill it in, therefore allowing access to her. There is A LOT that is unspoken between them, that I hope is addressed in the second book. She feels that everything was fake, which is clearly not the truth, seeing how protective he still is of her. He has blind sided and hurt her beyond repair as of now, but I hope he can sit down and express how it wasn't like that for him, not after they met. I'm really hoping there isn't any love triangle or anything added because I am definitely shipping Poppy and Cas. Butttt, we will have to wait seeing that the next book won't be out until September 1st... which I will be impatiently waiting for now! Now, go read this so you'll be ready for number two!!!

Also, did i mention it ended with Casteel telling Poppy they were going to Atlantia to get married?? HAHA!