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A review by talknerdybookblog
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Representation: Bisexual hero, supporting characters of colour
From Blood and Ash was really well written, and I liked the Heroine, Poppy. I was debating rating the book 3-stars but the fact that the Heronever once apologized to Poppy started the decline. And, it just got worse from there.
He's a player, a know-it-all, can never be wrong, and it's never his fault (there's always an excuse). Yet, he doesn't seem to understand that someone else's wrong does absolve him of his actions. No matter how horrible the Solis kingdom is, that doesn't excuse him tricking Poppy into believing he cared for her. And, before someone rebuts that he does care for her, given what he did to her (who he killed), what he allowed done to her when the truth comes out and how he slept with her (her first time) without coming clean, shows Poppy isn't a person to him. She's a means to an end... she's something to possess.
I appreciated that Poppy seems to realize at the end that there's a difference between lust and love and loyalty. But I would've preferred her not to get steamrolled by Hawke's good looks. In real life, if your lover were holding you captive, endangering your life, and only willing to help you with conditions... he would be the definition of toxic and abusive. So, I really don't understand how Hawke is romanticized after this.
Also, he actually used the fact that he was held captive and physically and sexually abused for decades as an excuse for his behaviour. So, another thing he was never told? That victims don't get free passes to be abusers.
Oh! And, he never got Poppy's consent when he bit her. I found that scene very offensive. Luckily, Poppy verbally consented to them sleeping together afterward – the bit doesn't influence her in that way, so it was legit verbal consent. But, the fact that I couldn't trust Hawke he wouldn't r@pe Poppy made me ill to my stomach.
I also loved how Poppy recognized how Hawke (and his people) might be right about her kingdom, but that doesn't negate the hatred within his kingdom. There's a reason two wrongs don't make a right, and Poppy's reception by Hawke's people illustrates how while fighting Poppy's kingdom, they have replicated their behaviour: hating people simply for their nationality, when they don't know the reality or beliefs of the person.
Finally, I got really annoyed with how Hawke kept deflecting accountability. Every time Poppy called him out on his betrayal, he would deflect and mock the fact that Poppy slept with him (which is so skeevy given that he knew she would've turned him down if she knew the truth), or lay blame at Poppy's feet for her kingdom's bad decisions. Yet, Hawke was alive pre-war and admits his people created the horrible vampyrs – they are HIS PEOPLES problem, so I do not understand how he can blame someone who was ignorant.
Does anyone else find it weird how Hawke teases Poppy for being "so violent"? When she only uses force when she's fighting for her life/freedom/in danger?
I'm unsure if I'm going to read this second book. Considering how offended I was by so many scenes in the last 20% I don't think I should read the next book. But, the premise was really good. I liked Poppy's characterization, and I'm a sucker for the Chosen One trope.
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions
• No cheating
• No OM drama
• Does (kind of but not really) have OW drama
– the Hero, Hawke, thinks Poppy is someone else when they first meet and he kisses her. Hawke thinks Poppy is one of her maids, but Poppy never meets with this maid in the book.
• Does have the Heroine pushing the Hero away
• No separation
Possible Triggers: Yes
• Murder
• Gore
• Torture
• Sexual assault
• Physical assault
• Mind control (mind r@pe) > ignores the Heroine's free will
• Abduction
• Confinement
• SEXISM
• Allusion to death of children (vampire's drinking their blood)
Ending:Cliffhanger
From Blood and Ash was really well written, and I liked the Heroine, Poppy. I was debating rating the book 3-stars but the fact that the Hero
He's a player, a know-it-all, can never be wrong, and it's never his fault (there's always an excuse). Yet, he doesn't seem to understand that someone else's wrong does absolve him of his actions. No matter how horrible the Solis kingdom is, that doesn't excuse him tricking Poppy into believing he cared for her. And, before someone rebuts that he does care for her, given what he did to her (who he killed), what he allowed done to her when the truth comes out and how he slept with her (her first time) without coming clean, shows Poppy isn't a person to him. She's a means to an end... she's something to possess.
I appreciated that Poppy seems to realize at the end that there's a difference between lust and love and loyalty. But I would've preferred her not to get steamrolled by Hawke's good looks. In real life, if your lover were holding you captive, endangering your life, and only willing to help you with conditions... he would be the definition of toxic and abusive. So, I really don't understand how Hawke is romanticized after this.
Also, he actually used the fact that he was held captive and physically and sexually abused for decades as an excuse for his behaviour. So, another thing he was never told? That victims don't get free passes to be abusers.
Oh! And, he never got Poppy's consent when he bit her. I found that scene very offensive. Luckily, Poppy verbally consented to them sleeping together afterward – the bit doesn't influence her in that way, so it was legit verbal consent. But, the fact that I couldn't trust Hawke he wouldn't r@pe Poppy made me ill to my stomach.
I also loved how Poppy recognized how Hawke (and his people) might be right about her kingdom, but that doesn't negate the hatred within his kingdom. There's a reason two wrongs don't make a right, and Poppy's reception by Hawke's people illustrates how while fighting Poppy's kingdom, they have replicated their behaviour: hating people simply for their nationality, when they don't know the reality or beliefs of the person.
Finally, I got really annoyed with how Hawke kept deflecting accountability. Every time Poppy called him out on his betrayal, he would deflect and mock the fact that Poppy slept with him (which is so skeevy given that he knew she would've turned him down if she knew the truth), or lay blame at Poppy's feet for her kingdom's bad decisions. Yet, Hawke was alive pre-war and admits his people created the horrible vampyrs – they are HIS PEOPLES problem, so I do not understand how he can blame someone who was ignorant.
Does anyone else find it weird how Hawke teases Poppy for being "so violent"? When she only uses force when she's fighting for her life/freedom/in danger?
I'm unsure if I'm going to read this second book. Considering how offended I was by so many scenes in the last 20% I don't think I should read the next book. But, the premise was really good. I liked Poppy's characterization, and I'm a sucker for the Chosen One trope.
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions
• No cheating
• No OM drama
• Does (kind of but not really) have OW drama
– the Hero, Hawke, thinks Poppy is someone else when they first meet and he kisses her. Hawke thinks Poppy is one of her maids, but Poppy never meets with this maid in the book.
• Does have the Heroine pushing the Hero away
• No separation
Possible Triggers: Yes
• Murder
• Gore
• Torture
• Sexual assault
• Physical assault
• Mind control (mind r@pe) > ignores the Heroine's free will
• Abduction
• Confinement
• SEXISM
• Allusion to death of children (vampire's drinking their blood)
Ending:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism