Born of Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout – a Review

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Description:
The line between love and obsession has never been wider.

While Sera is finally free of Kolis and back with those she loves, not everything is calm. Memories of all she’s endured still haunt her, but Sera finally has hope for a future with the other half of her heart and soul. Nyktos desires, loves, and accepts every part of her—even the monstrous bits she still battles.

More than ever, Sera and Ash have everything under the realms to fight for, and Nyktos has no doubt Sera is fit to be the Queen of the Gods. But she must find that faith within herself if they hope to convince the other Courts to support them against Kolis and make Iliseeum and the mortal realm better, safer places for all.

But as Sera begins to piece together the importance of her bloodline and the true meaning behind the foreboding prophecy, it becomes clear that everything that has happened and is yet to come is much bigger than Kolis and his dark obsessions.

They cannot help but wonder exactly how much influence the Fates have had and what their ultimate goal is. What Sera does know for sure is that they can trust very few—including her.

A battle between the gods is brewing, and heartbreaking losses are imminent with the true Primal of Death strengthening. With a family of the heart willing to battle by their side, can Sera and Nyktos stop Kolis before he destroys the realms, or will it all disappear in a fiery inferno of blood and ash?

And the line between justice and vengeance has never been so thin.

Review:

Born of Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout is the conclusion of her Flesh and Fire series. Refresher: Born of Blood and Ash is a prequel to her wonderful Blood and Ash series, taking place thousands of years prior to that series. Seraphena (Sera) Mierel, our heroine, was born to be an assassin, fulfilling her part in a deal made by her ancestor all those years before, as she has trained to be a powerful weapon. Nyktos (Ash) saves her life, and he takes her to his home, to become his Consort. Sera and Nyktos/Ash were so great together, with their chemistry off the wall, and in time, all of his people cared about Sera and her abilities.

As Sera reaches her Ascension, she will develop new skills, such as intuitions; as she returns to her family becoming the True Primal of Life. Sera, as the Queen, begins to put pieces together, especially what is behind the foreboding prophecy; with both Sera and Ash trying to convince the other courts to help stop Kolis. We learn quickly that Sera is now pregnant, with two boys; and Ash is happy and thrilled to be able to have children.  But first they need to find a way to get Kolis to entombed.

Kolis plans to take control Sera and Ash, which leads him to kill Sera’s entire family and her town. Everyone is dead, and Sera mourns the loss of her stepsister, wife, mother; leading Sera to lose control and destroy others.  Sera finds solace from Ash, who together will eliminate those close to Kolis.  She kills Veses, and Attes kills his brother, Kyn, as they needed to die.  The final battle to lock, and entomb Kolis away for centuries, was deeply intense. The Star that was intended to free Sotoria was stolen, as Calum hid it away, to be used centuries into the future.

We did get to see how Sera and Ash helped the ones they trusted to become new primals of those in other courts.  Attes plans to go into stasis to rest, passes his court to Lailah. Aios and Belle were great together, with Belle having her own court. Penellaphe also ascended.  I loved Reaver and Jadis, as they were cute; but I loved Nektas from the start to finish.  We also got hints leading into Poppy and Cas, with Sotoria being reborn.

 What follows is an exciting, emotional, sexy, intense, and romantic adventure, that had a number of reveals giving us clues of what is yet to come.   Sera is a fantastic and amazing heroine, being powerful, strong, courageous, determined and fierce. I also loved how much Ash loved Sera. Jennifer L. Armentrout gives us another very good story, with a bit slow early on, but the last third was awesome.

Reviewed by Barb

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