Daemon & Kitten

At the end of A FIRE IN THE FLESH, Sera and Nyktos are happy, together, and both Primals, so…what now? I asked this same question going into this book. And well, quite a lot, actually! So here’s what to expect from BORN OF BLOOD AND ASH, (without spoilers, of course!)

- Kolis is still very much out there.

- Sera is dealing with the fact that Kolis is still kickin’ and the trauma she underwent while in his captivity.

- Sera’s now the Primal of Life…so what does that mean? (Read to find out.)

- Ash is h*rny every time Sera does anything.

- War. Terrible war is on the horizon.

- That gosh darn prophecy is also very much out there.

I finished BORN OF BLOOD AND ASH well past midnight last night and had a lot of feelings falling into bed right after. First thought? Wow. What a way to tie FROM BLOOD AND ASH to this prequel series. My second? Remembering everything happening to Nyktos and Sera in the From Blood and Ash series. (Spoiler: I’m sad about it.) BORN effectively leads into the grand finale of the FROM BLOOD AND ASH series and points us towards one thing: Poppy.

The beginning takes a bit to really get going, but once it does, you’re on a thrill ride that won’t have you noticing how many pages the book is. And that last chapter? WHOO BUDDY I HAVE A LOT OF EMOTIONS. Have fun!

Thank you to the Queen JLA and BlueBoxPress for the eARC!

Visions of Flesh and Blood is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s From Blood and Ash and Flesh and Fire series. Extensive backgrounds and attributes are given for each character in the universe along with exclusive content that includes a Tawny/Poppy chapter, Nyktos/Sera scene, and a lot more. If you’re someone who struggles to remember small details from previous books, this is the perfect compendium to brush up on your FBAA knowledge! No new information is added, though, so don’t feel pressure to read this to understand future books.

Some of my favorite pieces include the afformentioned Nyktos/Sera scene, a bloodlines tree visual, and a breakdown of the entire prophecy (incredibly helpful!) The compendium also includes chapters from Miss Willa’s diary, detailing her many escapades, but these parts fell flat for me because I didn’t have an emotional attachment to any of the characters. There was also a fourth-wall-breaking moment when JLA herself interviews Kieran under the guise of a reporter, but this, too, fell flat for me.

“At the end of the tendrils of eather I sent out, I saw weather-streaked silver eyes snap open.

And I smiled.”

A FIRE IN THE FLESH is the third book in the Flesh and Fire series, and is a pivotal book in Nyktos and Sera’s story. This prequel series to the From Blood and Ash series was originally supposed to be a trilogy, with this book as the final installment, but JLA pulled a fast one on us and announced a fourth book coming to this series. Which means, MORE NYKTOS AND SERA! I’m honestly thrilled about this, because I’ve been personally enjoying the prequel series more than the From Blood and Ash series. (A hot take, I know.) I think I can say this next part with confidence: A FIRE IN THE FLESH is Jennifer L. Armentrout’s best installment in the Flesh and Fire series. Why, you ask? Let’s get into it!

We pick up in A FIRE IN THE FLESH right where book two ended (on an intense cliffhanger.) Sera has been taken by Kolis, and as you can imagine, Nyktos isn’t very happy about that. We see the consequences and problems from the first two books come to head in this installment. Namely, Sorotoria’s soul, Nyktos’ kardia, and Sera’s looming ascension. I gasped at the first, screamed at the second, and broke down into tears at the third. JLA really knows how to build tension and character growth in such a way that made it impossible for me to put this book down. I was up way past my bedtime reading this book, and I have zero regrets.