I didn't love "From Blood and Ash" by Jennifer L. Armentrout, but I also didn’t hate it. The book was fine until the second installment. However, after learning that it's going to be a 7-10 book series, I lost all interest. In my opinion, the world is not vast enough for that many books. The series should have ended with the third book, but it’s still ongoing.
This has caused me to lose interest in its spin-off series as well. As I mentioned before, the world is not vast enough for this many books and spin-off series.
However, I do appreciate the author's writing style. Her new series, "Awakening", intrigued me. I liked the blurb and have started reading it. So far, I’m enjoying the book. It’s planned to be a four-book series, which seems reasonable. I would have preferred it to be a trilogy, but let's see how the author expands the stories. I just don’t think Jennifer L. Armentrout writes plots with a large enough scope to accommodate so many books.
Despite this, I’m enjoying the book. The sexual tension and slow burn are awesome. It’s very well written and is the best part of the book. The world-building is above average for a fantasy romance book and even includes good political intrigue.
I think it’s going to earn four stars from me. Let's wait for the climax and see how this book fares.
Amazon Blurb
SHE LIVES BY HER INTUITION. HE FEEDS ON HER PLEASURE.
Long ago, the world was destroyed by gods. Only nine cities were spared. Separated by vast wilderness teeming with monsters and unimaginable dangers, each city is now ruled by a guardian―royalty who feed on mortal pleasure.
Born with an intuition that never fails, Calista knows her talents are of great value to the power-hungry of the world, so she lives hidden as a courtesan of the Baron of Archwood. In exchange for his protection, she grants him information.
When her intuition leads her to save a traveling prince in dire trouble, the voice inside her blazes with warning―and promise. Today he’ll bring her joy. One day he'll be her doom.
When the Baron takes an interest in the traveling prince and the prince takes an interest in Calista, she becomes the prince’s temporary companion. But the city simmers with rebellion, and with knights and monsters at her city gates and a hungry prince in her bed, intuition may not be enough to keep her safe.
Calista must follow her intuition to safety or follow her heart to her downfall.
