By Amie Kealy
*potential spoilers for those who haven’t read it yet.*
The Blood and Ash series is definitely one I would recommend for anyone looking for a fresh take on standard fantasy tropes paired with juicy romance and a male protagonist whose cocky arrogance almost makes us want to hate him. With secondary characters that you can’t help but fall for, this series is one you’ll find yourself lost in. It isn’t for the light-hearted though; a five-book series that has more instalments yet to come, it can feel like wading through thick sand towards the end!
However, if you like novels with strong, female leads, this might not be the one for you. Although Poppy, our central heroine, does have a pretty expansive character arc by the end of the series (so far), her self-doubt and almost reliance on Hawke in the first two novels, weakens her image as a strong female character and would make most feminists want to hit her over the head with a book and tell her to get a grip!
Having read some of her other series (The Lux series and The Covenant series), I was excited to read The Blood and Ash series, as it was her first attempt at a high fantasy novel. For those who don’t know what ‘high fantasy’ is, it’s when the novel is set in an alternate world, completely separate from our own, filled with typical fantasy tropes like elements of magic or other unusual characters and elements that set it apart from reality.
Whilst I would say the plot can be confusing and slightly hard to follow at times, it’s definitely still worth the read! The enemies-lovers trope we see in Poppy and Casteel is juicy enough that it’s hard to put the book down and her spin on common dark fantasy tropes (vampires and werewolves) is actually really interesting; offering quite a fresh take on what otherwise has become a perhaps overhyped and stagnant theme after years of adoration for the likes of Twilight and Vampire Diaries. It can at times, feel a little too spicy, so for those readers not into smutty novels, it might be best to leave this off your to be read list.
What Jennifer sometimes lacks when writing clear and concise plot, she makes up for in her character development. Aside from the two main characters, I think my favourite character is Kieran. He offers a slightly less arrogant and softer contrast to Casteel and is there for Poppy in a way that makes one’s heart melt. Especially in book four, The War of Two Queens, due to the nature of how the plot unfolds, Kieran’s protectiveness and earnest attitude definitely wins him some brownie points.
Of the five books, The War of Two Queens comes out on top, for me, by miles. The pace of this novel and character development is definitely well-thought out and timed, making it such an addictive read. The only thing I didn’t like about this one is how it ended. Left on a big cliff hanger, although eager to see where the plot would develop, the ending felt almost rushed, to the point where I had to re-read parts so that it made sense. Since book five is basically a retelling of book one, but in Casteel’s POV, I’m still waiting with baited to breath to learn where the series will end.
Although I wouldn’t necessarily put the book in my top five favourites, the fiery relationship between Casteel and Poppy and re-crafted fantasy elements definitely made for an interesting read.
Definitely agree with your review!