Its the last Trope Tuesday Link-Up of October and this week’s trope is an secretes and lies. I will be reviewing From Blood and Ash.
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Secrets and Lies
Secrets and Lies is a prevalent plot device found in just about every genre, from fantasy to romance. As with the case in From Blood and Ash, a particular person is being kept in the dark, but well, really just about everyone else in the book. These sorts of secrets and lies can also be conspiracies. Generally, the main character finding out about these secrets and lies is the story’s main conflict.
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From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Blood and Ash Book 1
Fantasy
Rating:
Synopsis
A Maiden…
Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.
A Duty…
The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden.
A Kingdom…
Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe is theirs through violence and vengeance. And as the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel.
Goodreads
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Review
I listened to the From Blood and Ash audiobook as quickly as my life would allow – work was getting in the way quite a bit, unfortunately. I’ve read several Jennifer L. Armentrout books, but this one might be my favorite.
Poppy, the main character, is strong and fierce, and though she is naive, it completely makes sense within the story. Poppy is by no means a damsel in distress despite the world trying to make her into one. And Hawke, oh Hawke. He is the hero I dream of in a book. A cocky boy who has a right to be cocky. Incredibly charming but also sensitive and kind. I liked Poppy a lot, but I absolutely loved Hawke.
The story was great! I have to admit that I guessed most of the twists early on in the book, but this book was more about getting to know the characters and the world than the actual story. Though a lot happened in the story, a lot of it is more set up than truly important to the plot. This is not a complaint at all, and not once did I think that the plot was slow. I was truly engaged the whole time. Though I must admit, I was eager to know if my guesses were correct!
Stina Nielsen was a delight. Her voice fit Poppy very well/ I loved the way she read this story, and her voices, especially Hawke’s, was amazing! I would certainly listen to books narrated by her again!
Purchase Links
Amazonǁ Bookshop.org ǁ Book Depository
Linkup
