I have quite the history with Jennifer L. Armentrout. I first heard of From Blood and Ash on YouTube. Here’s the video that first got me interested in the Blood and Ash series.

After watching that video, I went on Audible and bought the three books that were out at the time. By the end of the first chapter, I was hooked and knew I would be reading the entire series. It hits my Sarah J. Maas loving heart. If you’re interested in my Sarah J. Maas content, here’s a playlist.

I began making reviews on my channel as I was reading it. Here’s a playlist if you’re interested in me being a fangirl.

When I found out there would be a prequel series, I ordered the first book three months before it was released. I made two separate reviews, a spoiler-free and a spoiler one. If you’re interested, here’s my playlist for Flesh and Fire. Here’s me being a fangirl again.

If you don’t want any spoilers, read this review first. The second book in this series came out recently, so I have a lot more content since 2021.

Synopsis

Born as the Maiden, Seraphena’s life has never been hers. She is to uphold the deal made by her ancestor and present herself to the Primal of Death as his Consort, but she has an entirely different mission. One she’s been training to accomplish for years. It’s the one thing that can save her kingdom from the Rot.

She will make the Primal of Death fall in love with her, become his weakness, and end him. Her plans are derailed when the Primal of Death rejects her. Three years later, she meets him again and is surprised by his kindness. Kind deeds that chase away her darkness and ignites a passion she’s never felt, but her duty comes first. She must fight her attraction and end the Primal of Death.

Book Information

Genre: Fantasy
Category: Adult
Explicit violence: Yes
Explicit sex: Yes
Content warnings I noticed: A mention of attempted suicide

This is the first book in the Flesh and Fire series.

Review

The prose is great. It’s very accessible and easy to read.

The pacing is good. It can be argued that it’s too slow and that nothing happens. The plot develops very slowly and the story really picks up around chapter 20. However, I really enjoyed it since I prefer the plot to loosely connect events. This way, it acts like a backdrop.

The themes are explored well. They’re given enough time on the page. One of the themes we begin exploring and continue to do so in the second book is anxiety. It’s very interesting, considering Sera’s sheltered life.

The characters are great. I love Sera and Ash. Their chemistry is amazing. The other characters are great, too. They add so much to the story.

There’s the beginning of a romantic plotline. I love it. It’s a slow burn. My favorite kind.

Conclusion

Overall, this is a great story. I’ve read it about three times. Every time, it’s a great experience. I always rate it five stars.