A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire is the sequel to From Blood and Ash.
Format: Paperback
Genre: New Adult Fantasy
Page Length: 641 pages
Publisher: Blue Box Press (September 1, 2020)
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mr. Darcy‘s Rating: “You have bewitched me, body and soul.”
A Chasing Mr. Darcy Review
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020, and it did not disappoint!
Here’s a summary 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.
I loved From Blood and Ash, but I am in love with A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire. This is one o fmy favorite books I've read in a really long time.
First, let's be real...I love me some Casteel. Without him, well, I would probably just fall in love with Kieran, which I would totally be okay with. Casteel is perfection in this book, and I just want to eat him up. I love how he can be soft and swoon worthy in one breath, and totally savage in the next. I also really admire his commitment to Poppy. Despite the flack that these books get from some corners of the internet, I think Cas's dedication to Poppy is a really admirable plot point. He never wavers in his commitment to her, and even when she doesn't see it, he is on her side. And oh my Lord, the boy has some skills ( as well he should after being alive for so long...if he hasn't learned by now....well, I digress...). Poppy should thank the stars she has this man in her life and her bed, and maybe she shouldn't be quite so selfish.
Second, I also really enjoy the wolvin. I think they are so cool because it's like getting the best parts of a werewolf without having to fool with Jacob Black (yes, that's some Twilight shade I'm throwing out). I just want to run my hands through Kieran's fur, or better yet, maybe Delano's soft white fur. I am also fascinated by the wolvin's connection to Casteel, and how some of them have an unquestionable loyalty to him. Loyalty that is so strong it even causes some in-fighting at times. I'm also totally down for a joining scene at any time, place, point, etc. I want this scene in my life Jennifer Armentrout! (IYKYK).
Third, I just love this world where vampire's are seen and viewed in a different light. In so many popular fiction works, vampires are the tortured souls of the world, constantly misunderstood, ie, Damon Salvatore (who was totally misunderstood, BTW). I'm a vampire lover myself, so it feels strange for me to say, but I actually like a story in which a vampire's darkest natures turn out to the enemies of a world with similar, albeit more altruistic, tendencies. The similarities between the Atlantians and the vamps are numerous, yet humanity seems to be the biggest differentiated factor. I'm not sure if JLA meant for this thought to go so deep regarding the interactions between the two worlds, but that's where my mind went. You can thank Vampire Diaries for this particular thought jaunt!
I think these books are fabulous from a "suck you in and ruin you for reading for a while" mentality. Are they the most eloquently written? No. Could JLA benefit from an editor who knows how to use spell check? Yes. Can I put these books down when I start reading them? No, no I cannot, and I think that is all you need to know about whether a book is good. These books hook you from the start, and I am obsessed with them!
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