Book Review:
Title: A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Blue Box Press
“The world, no matter how big, is often smaller than we realize.”
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.
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 said it in my review for From Blood and Ash, and I’ll repeat it here: there’s just something so comforting to me about reading a JLA book.
Her writing is so easy to digest, it’s almost effortless to engage yourself into the story and just have…fun. Because if there’s one thing I can guarantee before reading any JLA book, it’s that I will most definitely have the most fun reading it. They’re like the perfect books to binge read and get lost in.
Let’s break down the different parts of this book:
Her writing is so easy to digest, it’s almost effortless to engage yourself into the story and just have…fun. Because if there’s one thing I can guarantee before reading any JLA book, it’s that I will most definitely have the most fun reading it. They’re like the perfect books to binge read and get lost in.
Let’s break down the different parts of this book:
Plot:
There wasn’t actually much of a plot in this book in terms of getting from point A to B, in my opinion. It did feel a bit like a filler book, but not necessarily in a negative way. At the end of the first book we know that Casteel plans to take Poppy home to his kingdom to meet his parents and get married, and it took a very, very, very long time for us to reach there. But in-between that we got a lot of social interaction, with Poppy building relationships with the side characters, understanding their feelings and motivations. We also got quite a few revelations and insights about the different creatures, the kingdom’s past and even more about Poppy’s past, helping to build up the world and flesh it out a bit more, which I’m assuming is going to be utilised in the coming books to make this story even more epic.
There wasn’t actually much of a plot in this book in terms of getting from point A to B, in my opinion. It did feel a bit like a filler book, but not necessarily in a negative way. At the end of the first book we know that Casteel plans to take Poppy home to his kingdom to meet his parents and get married, and it took a very, very, very long time for us to reach there. But in-between that we got a lot of social interaction, with Poppy building relationships with the side characters, understanding their feelings and motivations. We also got quite a few revelations and insights about the different creatures, the kingdom’s past and even more about Poppy’s past, helping to build up the world and flesh it out a bit more, which I’m assuming is going to be utilised in the coming books to make this story even more epic.
Characters:
Characters really make a book for me, and thankfully I loved not only the main characters, but all the side characters too. I really enjoyed Poppy coming into herself – figuring out and knowing what she wants – and taking control, while Casteel was giving her the space and support to make those decisions herself. Seeing Poppy and Kieran’s growing friendship (as well as her relationship with other side characters, e.g. Netta) was incredibly heart-warming, as was Kieran’s bond/friendship with Casteel.
At times Poppy’s inner monologue and the social interactions did grow a little repetitive, but for the most part, I enjoyed them.
Characters really make a book for me, and thankfully I loved not only the main characters, but all the side characters too. I really enjoyed Poppy coming into herself – figuring out and knowing what she wants – and taking control, while Casteel was giving her the space and support to make those decisions herself. Seeing Poppy and Kieran’s growing friendship (as well as her relationship with other side characters, e.g. Netta) was incredibly heart-warming, as was Kieran’s bond/friendship with Casteel.
At times Poppy’s inner monologue and the social interactions did grow a little repetitive, but for the most part, I enjoyed them.
Romance:
Is this a fantasy series about vampires? Yes. But it is just as much a romance novel… and I’m not complaining.
I love seeing Casteel and Poppy together and seeing the trust and respect in their relationship grow. They bounce off of each other so well, and there’s always some form of angst or banter in their conversations, both of which I am a sucker for!You can 8 times out of 10 expect a stabbing reference too.
I have to add that romance does kind of outweigh the plot in this instalment, so it’s not going to be for everyone, but that’s okay.
Is this a fantasy series about vampires? Yes. But it is just as much a romance novel… and I’m not complaining.
I love seeing Casteel and Poppy together and seeing the trust and respect in their relationship grow. They bounce off of each other so well, and there’s always some form of angst or banter in their conversations, both of which I am a sucker for!
I have to add that romance does kind of outweigh the plot in this instalment, so it’s not going to be for everyone, but that’s okay.
The Ending:
Like the first book, Ms. Armentrout decided to leave the most intense, crazy part of the book for the last few chapters. Yeah, this ending for me was even crazier because its super unexpected and just left me saying WHAT THE F*CK?! All I can really say is JLA really knows how to leave you craving more – her endings will leave you speechless, a little confused, but mainly crazy with the need for more!
However, I do think that if the intensity from the final in each of these books were spread out over a few more pages/chapters, it would improve the already amazing experience and make it less jarring.
If I’m being completely honest, do I think this is a ground-breaking story that has never been seen before, or is without its flaws, such as info dumping or moving too slowly? No. But I enjoy these books so much, and that’s the main thing for me. Reading is a hobby – I do it for enjoyment – so I’m going to base my rating on how much I had fun reading, and I had a lot of fun so…
Like the first book, Ms. Armentrout decided to leave the most intense, crazy part of the book for the last few chapters. Yeah, this ending for me was even crazier because its super unexpected and just left me saying WHAT THE F*CK?! All I can really say is JLA really knows how to leave you craving more – her endings will leave you speechless, a little confused, but mainly crazy with the need for more!
However, I do think that if the intensity from the final in each of these books were spread out over a few more pages/chapters, it would improve the already amazing experience and make it less jarring.
If I’m being completely honest, do I think this is a ground-breaking story that has never been seen before, or is without its flaws, such as info dumping or moving too slowly? No. But I enjoy these books so much, and that’s the main thing for me. Reading is a hobby – I do it for enjoyment – so I’m going to base my rating on how much I had fun reading, and I had a lot of fun so…
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