Week 52 Reviews: The Red Pearl Scene, A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire

From Goodreads:

The Red Pearl Scene at the beginning of From Blood and Ash, from Hawke's perspective.

From Goodreads:

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.

My Review:
Oh, yeah, it was just so fantastic to read these! The Red Pearl Scene was just fantastic, being in Casteel's head. And then there's the epicness of Kingdom of Flesh and Fire! I just loved reading these books, and I'm desperate for more!

Poppy spends a good deal of this book working through her emotions and her issues regarding the betrayal that Hawke is more commonly known as Casteel, the Dark One, Prince of the Atlantians. Which to be fair, was a really big one, especially after all that they shared together.

This book also expands upon the world, from the history, to the implications of the Ascended being vampires. I just wanted to learn everything, and how the pieces were there for that ending, but that they hadn't put them together, which had that ending feeling so deserved! 

But wow, that ending of Flesh and Fire? I was just not expecting that, we, the reader, and the characters themselves, believed differently-but the clues were there, and it was just a wonderful ending! I'm so excited for the potential as to where book 3 can go! I'm so excited!

These were just such great reads, and I need to read The Crown of Gilded Bones! 

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout 
Series: Blood and Ash #1.5, 2
Read: December 24th, 24th, 2020
Source: Online Free, Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Love her writing and the first book, and they're Prequel and Sequel Challenge 2020 Books and A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire is a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Blue Box Press
Published: 2020, September 1st 2020

The Red Pearl Scene:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars