A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (Blood and Ash, #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published by Blue Box Press on September 1, 2020
Genres: Enemies to Lovers, New Adult, Paranormal, Paranormal
Goodreads

A Betrayal…
Everything Poppy has ever believed in is a lie, including the man she was falling in love with. Thrust among those who see her as a symbol of a monstrous kingdom, she barely knows who she is without the veil of the Maiden. But what she does know is that nothing is as dangerous to her as him. The Dark One. The Prince of Atlantia. He wants her to fight him, and that’s one order she’s more than happy to obey. He may have taken her, but he will never have her.

A Choice...
Casteel Da’Neer is known by many names and many faces. His lies are as seductive as his touch. His truths as sensual as his bite. Poppy knows better than to trust him. He needs her alive, healthy, and whole to achieve his goals. But he’s the only way for her to get what she wants—to find her brother Ian and see for herself if he has become a soulless Ascended. Working with Casteel instead of against him presents its own risks. He still tempts her with every breath, offering up all she’s ever wanted. Casteel has plans for her. Ones that could expose her to unimaginable pleasure and unfathomable pain. Plans that will force her to look beyond everything she thought she knew about herself—about him. Plans that could bind their lives together in unexpected ways that neither kingdom is prepared for. And she’s far too reckless, too hungry, to resist the temptation.

A Secret…
But unrest has grown in Atlantia as they await the return of their Prince. Whispers of war have become stronger, and Poppy is at the very heart of it all. The King wants to use her to send a message. The Descenters want her dead. The wolven are growing more unpredictable. And as her abilities to feel pain and emotion begin to grow and strengthen, the Atlantians start to fear her. Dark secrets are at play, ones steeped in the blood-drenched sins of two kingdoms that would do anything to keep the truth hidden. But when the earth begins to shake, and the skies start to bleed, it may already be too late.

*ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review*

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire is finally here and honestly, if you thought Blood and Ash was amazing, be prepared to be absolutely rocked. If you did not read the first book, do not start here because this is a direct continuation and you will have missed out on so much more than what is covered in this book. Do yourself a huge favor and read it.

“He may hate being called the Dark One, but he has earned that name..But he’s the one thing in all the kingdoms that you, and only you, never have to fear.”

There is no author quite like Armentrout that knows how to write an asshole alpha that makes you want to hit him and love him at the same time. Hawke has now revealed himself to be Casteel, the Prince of Atlantia, and wants Poppy as his bride. But it’s not only because he wants her, but because he needs to use the now former Maiden to get his older brother, and rightful future King, back. And Poppy is about to learn so much more about who she is and what the Maiden was really for. Get ready to be amazed when secret after secret gets revealed and everything that Poppy thought she knew is about to get blown out of the water.

“Your heart, Poppy? It is a gift I do not deserve. But it is one I will protect until my dying breath.”

Poppy, feeling betrayed by the man she believed herself to be falling in love with, refuses to consider to marriage to Casteel but when she begins to realize that some things that he has told her is true, she agrees to a fake engagement but with her own stipulations to try and save her brother as well as his.

“Your heart was always safe with me. It always will be. There is nothing I will protect more fiercely or with more devotion, Poppy. Trust in that—in what you feel from me. In me.”

But Casteel doesn’t make it easy to resist him. Lordy, Casteel is wicked and those dimples and dirty mouth of his make Poppy weak in the knees and there is only so much the heart can take. When she finally opens her eyes and remembers that Casteel sees her as Poppy, and not just the Maiden. That he values her strength, her courage, her bravery, and even her violence. That he doesn’t want to suppress her which is something that she’s had to deal with all her life, she stops fighting it and wants what’s between them to be real. My heart!!!

“There is no side of you that is not as beautiful as the other half. Not a single inch isn’t stunning.” His lashes lifted, and the intensity in his stare held me captive. “That was true the first time I said it to you, and it is still the truth today and tomorrow.”

If I could give this 10 stars, it would still not be enough for me. It’s the only way to explain how I read over 600 pages and I didn’t want it to end. The story is engrossing, the characters are stellar, the relationship between Casteel and Poppy is swoon-worthy, and that ending is another massive cliffhanger that made me need more. Do not go into this book thinking that you are going to be able to recover easily because you will not. I’m still reeling from it all and I just want to reread it from the first book. I have not been so addicted to a JLA series since Lux and I can not wait to read more. Gah, stop reading my review and go buy this ASAP!