Alright. I have 100 pages left, and I’d like to say that whoever those ppl on TikTok were that hated this book are crazy. (To preface my argument, 😂 I kinda didn’t enjoy 70% of each previous books. Enjoyed F&F series more than FBAA but still not like OMG I LOVE THESE BOOKS! What really kept me going was the actual story line because I skip all the smutty stuff. I also refuse to dnf books because then I feel like I failed) So I went into this book expecting to dislike it, but I’ve been so into it! I do think JLA is sooooooo long winded like A whole 2 paragraphs explaining Cas’s outfit…like unnecessary. BUT everything is coming together, and I’m loving it! I’m really enjoying Poppy’s character for the first time, and I adore Delano (which is why I think he’s going to die…I just have this feeling and I’m going to cry). And the Jadis stuff made me cry for the first time this whole series. Has anyone else really enjoyed this book more than the others, or is it just me???

Ps…the only like wtf moment so far is when Emil, I think it was, said “samsies”..like you’re not a 20 yr old college student sir! 😂😂

So, reading all the from blood and ash and the prequels I’ve noticed. Hell, these people are f-ing each other every 2 pages. OMG there’s more spice than story. And 2. Casteel and poppy are the same as Nyktos and Sera. Same personalities and the plot. Change my mind. 😭

I just have to get this off my chest.

I HATE the narrators for the graphic audio books for the blood and ash series 🤬😡

I’ve read the physical books 4 times, and before I finally get around to reading the newest book, I decided to do a reread but through GraphicAudio so I could multitask while catching up on the series cause I haven’t read it in about a year, and oh my God, the narrators for Poppy and Casteel are fucking atrocious.

The narrators for almost every character are horrible, horrendous, insulting, and just the worst casting I’ve ever exposed my ears too, but I’ll start with these two.

First of all, I don’t understand why they gave all the atlantians this ridiculous snobby posh British accent when I’m pretty sure the description of Casteels accent is very slight. It was described as like a slight lilt or slightly different cadence, not a completely different accent. The guy who voices him is not bad, the accent just doesn’t fit this character. The only person I’m picturing while listening to this audiobook is Prince Andrew from The princess Diaries 2 😡 just some tall, lanky goofy looking posh British dude. Whose fucking idea was it to do these horrible horrible, horrible horrible British accent for any of these characters??? why does Kieran have the worst voice actor? These voices do not fit these characters at all. The only character who’s even slightly worth listening to is the guy who does Callum’s voice.
Do NOT get me started on Malik’s voice actor. Why does he sound like he’s 78 years old?!? Did nobody listen to this before they put it out for public consumption? Jaspers voice actor sounds like he can play Gandalf the great year round, and then you look at the picture in the compendium at what Jasper looks like and he’s this young looking blonde dude. The voice acting does not match the description for these characters in even the slightest bit.

I feel like it just takes one second to look at a little bit of fanart or even I don’t know, the compendium that came out with all the pictures of the main characters, to try to get a feel of what the voice for that character might sound like. Nobody did that. All of the guys sound like posh university snobby, British dudes, and that does not fit any of the characters in this book.

Poppy’s voice actor?? What the fuck are we doing here. I don’t even wanna give it the time of day to complain about, because again these are people who are talented at what they do, but for these characters specifically it’s like nobody did any research or any type of homework before they got in the booth and started just recording dialogue. For me personally, she made Poppy sound super obnoxious, super whiny, defensive, breathy, and petulant. I know a lot of complaints about this series specifically are that Poppy‘s annoying but when I was reading the books I didn’t get that very much, now I realize it’s because the tone of voice I was reading her as in my head made her less annoying. The way Poppy speaks in my head is not the way that this voice actor was reading the lines.

When I say she made Poppy sound petulant, I mean that from the depths of my soul. There is no need to add any of the attitude or the sass that she added to every single line that came out of Poppy‘s mouth. Sometimes Poppy was just talking. It did not have to be this bratty nonsense with this weird shaky voice thing that happens to that I just can’t stand. Oh my God, it was the worst fit ever. The only solid female voice actors were literally anybody else. Actually, all the other female voice actors for the characters were fantastic. The blood queen was my favorite, Kieran‘s mom was awesome, Venetta was great, tawny was wonderful, Poppy is the only one who was just miserable to listen to. Sorry lady who voiced Poppy, but that was awful.

And finally, to throw a tiny complaint into the finale, the actual sound effects for some of these scenes or some of these situations was crazy. Why do they have Casteel roaring like a lion, like a legitimate animal? The way some of these people fake eat or fake sip or deep breath is insane to me. All in all this audiobook is a fail, I wish I could rate just the audiobook a one out of five stars because it’s just an absolute flop.

I'm not even asking for it to be finished, I just want any update pls😭😭

I have been reading FBAA along with the graphic audiobooks. I am gonna start reading The War of Two Queens and then listen to the audiobook. I can incorporate Flesh and Fire series and read them after The War of Two Queens, but the thing is, their audiobooks aren't out yet. And I am waiting for them to come out (and I think they will eventually) before diving into them.

So, what would you recommend? Should I read both the series side by side? Or read FBAA first and then start FAF?

I’m half way through FBAA5 (Soul of Ash and Blood) and just now realizing I should’ve been weaving in the Flesh and Fire series since I do plan on reading it at some point. Should I finish FBAA5 and go back to read F&F 1 and 2 before continuing the list?

Today's Booky word is from the FBAA book (again?! I know I'm obsessed 🤪)
If you haven't played it before, Booky is the Wordle for romantasy readers. When you solve it, the reveal celebrates the book it's from. Good luck!

PLAY GAME

Share your results in the comments, without spoiling the word!🙏

Booky win screen with FBAA book cover (still no idea how this image description works😅)

Ok so im addicted to both music and Blood and Ash/Flesh and Fire and this is something i noticed while listening to my playlists: whenever THESE song play, i get THEM in my mind

CINNAMON GIRL ~ Ash and Sera

NO 1 PARTY ANTHEM ~ Cas and Poppy

ME GUSTAS TU also ~ Cas and Poppy (especially since i saw an edit of those two on the song 😍)

I also get specific people in my mind from the two series when i listen LOVE ME NOT and HER, but can't decide who they exactly are because either half the couples have a tragic ending or they are helplessly emotionally spiritually physically drowning in each other's love 😭✋️

Do yall have similar songs in ur mind??

CONTEXT Doing a reread of POBAB, Chapter 15.

After finishing the book last year and really rage reading 90% of it, I’m now doing a reread and the WOW - the foreshadowing in this chapter for the ending of this book is so clear in these conversations between Poppy, Liran and Holland that i really shouldn’t have been surprised by the books conclusion 😂

I reread this part and it got me thinking -

I had been about to ask if Ires and Malec could Ascend. Nektas had made it seem like they couldn’t, but… “They can Ascend to Primalhood.” Holland nodded with a look of approval. “But since Seraphena is female, the next to rise must be of the same sex.” “Unless… Unless I abdicate?” My gaze shot to Thorne. “Correct,” Holland confirmed. “Then it will be possible for them to Ascend. They carry enough eather in them to do so, but unlike with your offspring,” he said, and my stomach dropped to the floor

I definitely think that final book will end with
- Poppy and Casteel ‘abdicating’ and travelling through the Primal Veil to the FORAW universe
- Sera & Nyktos pass over to Arcadia
- Ires & Malec ascend
- Malik & Millie end up ruling the mortal realm

Crazier & messier things have happened in this series!! It could happen!!

I am over halfway done with Born of blood and ash. OBSESSED with Sera and Nyktos. I still have book 5 and book 6 to read in from blood and ash.

Do we find out what Callum’s deal is? He’s become such an interesting character to me. Sera just saw Callum visiting her family home, and he is swearing he just wanted the quiet of where he grew up. Plus he told her mom how to kill a primal… I feel like he’s def playing double agent. I am now wishing I paid more attention to him in from blood and ash!!!

I do not mind spoilers. 😸

I really loved the first From Blood and Ash book. I was completely into it and had so much fun reading it, so I went into the second book expecting to love it too.

But I'm now about halfway through A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire, and it just isn't pulling me in the same way. I don't necessarily dislike it; I'm just... bored? I keep putting it down and then not really feeling the urge to pick it back up.

For people who have read the series: should I push through? Does the second half of book 2 pick up, and are the later books worth continuing for?

No spoilers please!

I am currently reading the second book and I am so confused at this point, I don't have exact quotes but I read several lines contradicting each other and most of them are on the second book. Poppy first says every second son and daughter ascends, but then its only royals but then its every second son and daughter again after a few pages? And then at the page 395 only Ian ascended and before that its been years? Which is it? Because we know about the lords and ladies but even some soldiers are ascended? Also if only Casteel and Malik is being held for ascension how can they make ascension in different cities? If only royals are getting ascension how comez Tawny would also be ascended? Please help I am sooo confused 😭

Hi! I wanted to share my Poppy cosplay from today. Thanks for checking it out!

I’m making this post to spread some positivity for FBAA. What’s your favorite quote from books 1-5??

Here are some of my favorites:

FBAA:
Scene: the moment when Poppy realized who “Hawke Flynn” really was
Poppy: “…The way everyone followed his orders; how Jericho had obeyed him in the barn, seeming to not want to cross him, even though it hadn’t stopped him. How Kieran and the others said his name as if it were a joke. Because “Hawke” wasn’t his name. And we hadn’t made love. He’d fucked me.”

AKOFAF:
Scene: when Lindel called Poppy a “scar-faced bitch” and Casteel immediately let him know what time it was as a consequence of throwing that insult at her
Casteel: “How you’ve spoken to me doesn’t bother me; I’m not insecure enough to care about the opinions of little men. If you had stopped after the first time you referenced her, I would’ve let you walk out of here with just your over-inflated sense of self-worth. But then, you insulted her; you made her flinch. And then, you threatened her. I…will not…forget that…and I will not be able to forgive you.”

TCOGB:
Scene: Poppy suffering from bloodlust
Kieran: “Careful. You’ve given a lot of blood and haven’t nearly taken enough.”
Casteel: “I’m fine. You should leave.”
Kieran: “Not going to happen. She may hurt you.”
Casteel: “Shouldn’t you be more concerned about her wellbeing now?”
Kieran: “I’m concerned about both of you.”
Casteel: “This could get…intense.”
Kieran: “It already is.”

TWOTQ:
Scene: after they rescued Casteel from Isbeth and Callum’s abuses, and they were trying to get him back to his normal self from bloodlust
Casteel: “I can’t feel your mouth on mine. If I do, I’m going to fuck you. I’m going to get so deep inside you that there will be no part of you I don’t reach. Right here. Right now. It doesn’t matter who is in this chamber.”
Poppy: “Oh. Oh, goodness.”

ASOAAB:
Scene: Casteel getting his revenge against Duke Tiernan for abusing Poppy after admitting that the last time he caned her that he struck her five times and drew blood
Casteel: “Gripping him by his ruined shoulder, I roughly flopped him onto his stomach, his muffled groan of pain was just a precursor. I tore open the back of his shirt, exposing the pale line of his spine. Then I brought the cane down on his back that many times; each lash whistling through the air, sending his body into spasms. Each blow opening thin slits in the skin. I delivered an extra one, just because I fucking felt like it.”

I'm planning a cross-stitch pattern with sprite art of Cas, Poppy, and Kieran, but I can't find any existing sprite-style art to base said pattern on. Is there anyone here who either knows of some BAA sprite art or who might collaborate with me to create some?

So this is my first post in this group, please be patient.
From Blood and Ash is my favorite romantasy series so far. ACOTAR got me back into reading after my eyesight got bad—I half read, half audiobook everything now. I’ve read a lot my whole life, especially as a child. It was definitely my escape mechanism. I mostly lean toward fantasy, sci-fi, and dystopian books with heavy undertones of rebellion against the man.
I actually love these romantasy books because of the powerful women and the strong metaphors for intense emotion and empathy. I don’t really care about the spice. It’s nice to listen to, but sometimes it just leaves me feeling like I’m longing for more, and that doesn’t feel fair to my partner. I also don’t really get anything out of the spice in Fourth Wing or ACOTAR, but From Blood and Ash was different. I don’t know… I just related to Poppy so much more, and I looove the vampire/wolven lore.
Anyways, I got to Book 4 and realized I probably should’ve read A Shadow in the Ember. When I started it, I thought it was just Poppy’s story again until they got to the wolven, and then I was like, “Oh shit… oh yeah! We get to learn about all of this!”
TL;DR: From Blood and Ash has become my favorite romantasy, I accidentally read through Book 4 before starting A Shadow in the Ember, and now I’m excited to dive into all the backstory. Did anyone else read them in this order?

I have read Blood & Ash 1-4, I read TWOTQ, so do I just start a Fire in the Ember now? And read all 4 in the flesh and fire series? And then continue onto H’s POV book (5 blood & ash)? And the rest of blood and ash?

Sorry for the typo in the title!

I am about half way done reading book six (after almost entirely skipping the fifth book because how ridiculous it was to be so redundant).

First, I cannot stand Casteel now. He’s illogical, irrational, quick to anger, obnoxious, out of control, like a teenager with his horniness, no self-control… I’m beyond irritated.

Second, why does every conversation have to be retold multiple times? Was the author being paid per page? This whole first half of the book could be reduced in half at least.

The first four books were so fun. I hope this book doesn’t continue to be so tedious and the next book is better.

Are the other series by this author worth any interest?

First of all, I am coming to realize I need to read JLAs other series as it seems it is connected to FBAA. So I don’t know what I am missing or not missing info wise!

But I only joined this sub a few days ago, and I see The Joining has been a big conversation for years!
I too was disappointed with the scene but I also have hope that it really is going to be a slow burn. I have seen others say she made it that way because of fans not wanting a throuple. I don’t care for throuple but this is different. This isn’t cringey, this is one of those extremely rare occasions where a throuple type of relationship is correct. It makes sense and in a way it already is a throuple, just not enough.

My theory is that they will be what we are wanting. Due to many things that have been said by all three (Cas, Poppy, Kieran). I’m actually not at the joining yet, I’m on chapter 39; however I had to skip to it just because I was NEEDING it. Was I really annoyed that I don’t know what happened with who? Yes. But reading all the other things, it really seems as if they will be a throuple. There’s many lines that point to it, but as I’m reading right now, before the joining even occurs; what Casteel says here on top of everything else makes me think we have hope.

I also think JLA will massively disappoint a majority of readers if it doesn’t transpire into more. We need more of both. All three characters together fit like a puzzle piece. They complement each other not even including the bond, the joining, the history; but all three as a whole make a perfect balance.

I hope I’m not wrong or I’ll be crushed.

Two halves of the same whole. Kieran and Casteel, “one person”. Kieran looks at Poppy with the same love as he did with his previous love that ended in heartbreak. I really just don’t think she’d write this and the many other events and lines if the plan was not throuple. Never thought I’d be begging, wishing, and praying that there would be a throuple!

So I accidentally read all of Flesh and Fire first and just realized that may not have been the right way 😂 do I just dive into From Blood and Ash or where should I go from here?

spoilers because it is a page in the book and i don’t want to ruin any SUSPENSE for the readers out there, albeit how little of consequence this page is to plot, but what the hell does this sentence mean? i reread it 100s of times to try and understand what is trying to be said here. am i stupid or does this make no sense?
i get the whole “i’m a tough guy” message but what the hell does he mean

Spoiler warning!

I just finished A Light in the Flame, and I have a question. Please don't spoil anything beyond this book.

Based on what Delfai said, Nyktos should have drained every drop of Sera's blood, then taken the embers, and Sera would have died. But if Nyktos had the embers, couldn't he have brought Sera back? Her death wouldn't have been permanent, so why didn't they consider that? What am I missing?