A Soul of Ash and Blood

Jennifer L. Armentrout

Jul 2023 · Blood and Ash Book 5 · Blue Box Press

About this ebook

Only his memories can save her…

A great primal power has risen. The Queen of Flesh and Fire has become the Primal of Blood and Bone—the true Primal of Life and Death. And the battle Casteel, Poppy, and their allies have been fighting has only just begun. Gods are awakening across Iliseeum and the mortal realm, readying for the war to come.

But when Poppy falls into stasis, Cas faces the very real possibility that the dire, unexpected consequences of what she is becoming could take her away from him. Cas is given some advice, though—something he plans to cling to as he waits to see her beautiful eyes open once more: Talk to her.

And so, he does. He reminds Poppy how their journey began, revealing things about himself that only Kieran knows in the process. But it’s anybody’s guess what she’ll wake to or exactly how much of the realm and Cas will have changed when she does.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. But this time, Hawke gets to tell the tale.

Ratings and reviews

I waited a long time for this book and was extremely excited to dive in! The last 4 books have consistently gained momentum and left me wanting more with the end of each book. This book is a very big let down. I've only made it half way through the book and had to come to the reviews to see what I could expect. This book is a complete re read of the first couple books in Cas's POV but there is little to NO added material. I will finish this book but I truly hope it ends soon and the author has better plans for #6. You can skip this book if you don't want to spend the money l, or better yet just reread the first 4! That would be a hell of a lot more exciting

I will try to keep this spoiler-free, because it is still worth a read. that said, while I love this series, and enjoyed this read, I feel a little bit cheated when it comes to plot. in some series it makes perfect sense to re-tell the story from a new character's perspective. however, readers of the series as a whole are not gaining much that was not already discussed between Poppy and Cas already. we get a few new scenes, but the same discussions and moments we already love, with some plot advancement and discoveries in the last moments that, while moving some concepts forward, many of us could have guessed anyway (and in some sections toward the end o the book, there's even some sloppy editing of pronouns from first to third person, making re-use even more obvious) . I love this series, I will still preorder the next book, but in hindsight, I would have rather waited longer for an installment of more substance.

This book is a thrilling addition to the Blood and Ash series. It offers a fresh perspective by diving into Casteel's memories and present moments. The book keeps you engrossed with its mix of familiar and new scenes, filled with surprises and intense emotions. Poppy and Casteel's chemistry is undeniable, and their love story unfolds beautifully. While the overall plot doesn't advance significantly, the ending leaves you eagerly anticipating the next book. This extraordinary installment delves into Casteel's past and unfiltered thoughts, making it a must-read for fans of the series.

About the author

Jennifer L. Armentrout was born on June 11, 1980. She writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. Her works include the Covenant series, the Lux series, and The Dark Elements series. She also writes adult and new adult romance under the name J. Lynn.