From Blood and Ash

This story starts off with Poppy going to the Red pearl.. She is The Maiden.. she isn't allowed to go but when has that ever stopped her. She goes there as she was bored, lonely and the turn of events is what made me read the book. She is caught by a mysterious women who tells her to go to a room to escape from her guard. Now that's where it gets interesting... She finds the infamous Hawke Flynn and ooh you gotta read the book!

Some truths do nothing but destroy and decay what they do not obliterate. Truths do not always set one free. Only a fool who has spent their entire life being fed lies believes that.”

Poppy leads a life in invisible shackles. So many basic privileges that others had was denied to her. She was to be given to the God's upon her Ascension (secret).. She is abused by the Duke and many ascended but is a beloved of the Queen. Hawke Flynn replaces her previous gaurd who was killed by the rebels called Descenters. They are the group that follows Prince Casteel and do many horrible things in his name..

From Blood and Ash

We Shall Rise.

The plot starts of very slow and precise.. I hated that at first.. every small detail was given and I was about to dnf it.. but things just got hotter when Hawke enters. There is also a gaurd called Vikter who has been like a father to Poppy. Her parents had died when she was very young due to a Craven attack. What is a Craven you ask? It is caused by Atlantian's bite... They are monstrous and wreck havoc wherever they go.

“Death is like an old friend who pays a visit, sometimes when it’s least expected and other times when you’re waiting for her. It’s neither the first nor the last time she’ll pay a visit, but that doesn’t make any death less harsh or unforgiving.”

Poppy first seems to the Maiden, bland and inferior.. but as you tread along the journey, you find all her other attribute and charecter. Her charecter is well built and is on point. Her relationship with Hawke is just phenomenal. Their romance was everything.

“You’re absolutely magnificent. Beautiful.”He’d spoken words which too often meant nothing and too rarely meant everything.

“I want your eyes open,” he said.

“Why?”

“Because I want you to see what you do to me when you touch me.” he said

(Swoon)

Things I didnt like about the book was that it was predictable and pace was damn slow.. but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. But everything at the end compensates for all the missed pacing and many betrayals and secrets are revealed. Poppy will question everything she had known.. I loved the world building and history of the story...

He dipped his chin. “It’s okay, you know?”

“What is?”

“Everything that you’re feeling,” he said. “And everything that you’re not.”

I would rate this a 4 star and I loved the ending. Can't wait to know more. I highly recommend it!