The Crown of Gilded Bones: Blood and Ash, Book 3

The Crown of Gilded Bones is the third installment in the From Blood and Ash series, and should not be read as a standalone. From Blood and Ash was a surprise release from JLA last year that brought about a whole new world and set of characters. We were lucky to receive the second book only a few short months after the first. It took a bit longer to receive the third book, but not as bad as the full year I used to have to wait between Lux Series book releases. That was a real struggle.I’m happy to report the wait was worth it and the 3rd book did not disappoint. My first thought when I finished the book was, Poppy is a bad$$.” My immediate second thought was... do I really have to wait to find out more (insert whining voice and foot stomping)? I’m always so nervous that the new books won’t live up to the hype in my mind, but that is never the case with a JLA book. Highly recommend everyone check out this series!***Spoiler Alert*** Don’t continue on if you haven’t read and don’t want to be spoiled!The 3rd book picks up right where the 2nd ended. Poppy just released her wrath upon the group of Altantians that attempted to stone her in Nyktos Chambers and we learned that she carried the blood of the King of Gods within her. As can be expected all hell breaks loose following that revelation. Things are touch and go there for a bit, and I thought we were about to see Cas and Kieran throw down. Luckily the flames were extinguished and the groups dispersed. From there we get to learn more about Poppy and what exactly caused the stir. The first twist occurs very quickly following the open scene and I for one did not see it coming. I don’t want to give away all of the story, but you will quickly realize who is on Poppy & Cas’s side and who is against them. There are a few very tense chapters where I was about to throw my kindle, but happy to report it works out (for the most part). We spend a good majority of the middle section learning more about the history and experiencing Altantia through Poppy’s eyes. As to be expected with any JLA book, the last quarter of the book is filled with action packed anxiety inducing scenes. I almost wanted to stop at 80% because everyone was in a good place and I was afraid to be left wanting more until the next book release.Of course, the book is full of all our favorite elements like snarky and intense romance between the main couple, strong supporting characters, action, light banter, and friendship. Although Poppy and Cas’s relationship really developed in the 2nd book, you see it grow even more through the course of this story. There are times their intimacy is so strong I almost feel like I shouldn’t be experiencing it along with them. They really and truly love each other. Everyone’s favorite best friend, Kieran, is ever present in the new story. I so enjoy the growing relationship between Kieran and Poppy. I always get a chuckle out of her questioning him.(I think he secretly enjoys it). There are a slew of other favorites that make their appearance like Vonetta, Niall, Delano, Tawny, and more. We also get to meet a lot of new and exciting characters. One word, dragons. I love the growing dynamic of the group, and can’t wait to find out more.Honestly, I loved everything about the new installment. I thought it was a great continuation of the previous entries and I can’t wait to see what comes next. As much as I wanted to throw my kindle and smack some characters upside the head, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m so excited to find out more. Here’s hoping the next one comes soon. I’m not sure I’ll be able to hold out, and will have to pass the time with a reread.

The bad:The entire time I was reading this book, I was convinced it was going to be a 4 star review. Armentrout has a tendency in this series to end chapters in the middle of conversations rather than important or natural ends to scenes, which is incredibly frustrating. I get it - as an author you want people unable to put the book down, reading 'just one more chapter' - but it made reading multiple-chapter-long conversations extremely exhausting.I felt like most of this book was a lot of extra words to pad the page count. Because, you know, you're already three books in so you can afford to drag it out because you're already successful. Heavy worldbuilding is still happening three books in, but it came as frustratingly long conversations between Poppy and someone. She'd go off on a few paragraphs 'thinking' of questions and what the consequences would be, and then ask those questions and get really long answers of some things she might have already thought of. Repetitive and UNNECESSARY word count padding.I contemplated a 3 star review at many points in this book. The writing was just... meh, compared to the previous two books. There were several instances of typos, wrong words, and just really poor conversation dynamics. It felt super forced and stiff, and once again adding conversations/responses/declarations when they were really unnecessary. Again, an attempt at word count padding. This book, while the story was perfectly executed, felt like it was rushed to get published and did not go through as many edits/reviews as it needed.The good:Obviously, I ended up giving a 5 star review. Partly for these things, but mostly for what I'll finish this review with.We started out with a BANG. It picks up right where we left off (which after a short break between reading book 2 and 3, I did have to go back and reread the last chapters so I didn't forget what happened) and that was an EXPLOSIVE ending to book 2. That meant the start here was just as intense. A little confusing, but intense nonetheless.The steam was once again amazing. Poppy and Casteel have some very inappropriate times to be heated, but that's also why we love it. Their relationship is by far the best part of this series (raise your hand if you've discovered a knife kink through reading this series). I will never not love their banter.The story continues to get better as secrets are uncovered, plots become clearer, and the betrayals/discoveries/friendships are always good sparks. I can't say any of the plot points really came as massive 'surprises' or twists, but they were still executed quite brilliantly and made for an enjoyable read.Here's where I decided that all of those bad things were background noise and this book deserved a 5 star review. THE LAST CHAPTER. I kept thinking, 'hmm, this book should have been over a few chapters ago... what sort of bang are you going to give us?', because by now I've come to expect a massive, mic-drop-intense ending to each book. AND HOLY GODS IT WAS EVERYTHING.Anyway, 5 stars for that last chapter, and it carries such a heavy weight, it overpowered my negative feelings toward the rushed book.

>Book Review – The Crown of Guilded Bones.I am an independent reviewer. This book is the 3rd in the Blood and Ash series and ends in a cliffhanger. This story takes place immediately after the ending of book 2. Poppy’s attackers have been destroyed by Poppy’s weird glowing power, scaring everyone, snapping any wolven bonds and creating a bond with herself to all the wolven. Poppy and Casteel are still in danger and now all the wolves protect Poppy. The coronation scene was a bit of a letdown. I wanted the gods to bless the coronation as they did for the marriage. Poppy’s origins have been a big question that gets an answer in this book.>The gang, especially Poppy, Casteel and Kiernan, travel to the land of the gods to wake up Nyktos – the head god. The descriptions of their discoveries and their battles are page turning and fun to read. I love when Casteel supports Poppy, causing her to step up to the plate and fight. I didn’t like how Poppy seems to embrace her powers, yet when it counts, she forgets to use them or is not as strong as she should be. One of the explanations from the Blood Queen regarding Poppy’s origins is hard for me to totally understand. I get the gist, but there seems to me to be an issue with the sentence. This may be an editing error.>I really love that Ian and Malik are in this book. I won’t spoil anything, but I am glad Poppy and Casteel finally get to see them. This book is appropriate for an adult audience. The love scenes are very erotic, but perfect for Poppy and Casteel. Meeting Miss Willa was just hysterical! I am giving this book 4 stars. I felt the cliffhanger ending seems to keep happening to either Poppy or Casteel. The series is a good one. I really appreciate the length of each book in the series.

Eu devorei todos os livros da série de uma forma absurda. Apreciei a leitura em cada pedacinho, mas nesse eu achei que a autora se superou. Com absoluta certeza meu favorito até agora.Equilibrou os plots com a narrativa, me prendeu e me fez ficar com a curiosidade atiçada por cada nova página.A forma como desenvolveu o relacionamento do casal foi muito fluída, apesar do tempo ser relativamente pequeno (de relacionamento), o desenvolvimento que ela trouxe até agora, nesse livro tem um resultado absurdamente potente.A questão política e da própria fantasia é bem amarrada, e quando as coisas não fazem sentido, ela consegue explicar no tempo certo e encaixa as peças que faltam. O que faz com que a narrativa seja ainda mais viciante. Ela coloca todas informações muito bem introduzidas, o que as vezes em obras de fantasia são sempre muito jogadas, neste caso ela explica tudo no momento adequado, e o fato de Poppy também estar nesse papel de aprendiz do universo foi uma sacada dela, que se mostra extremamente EFICAZ no terceiro livro.Perceber como Poppy se transformou, aceitou seu fardo foi maravilhoso.A expectativa para o próximo livro esta alta, a narrativa esta chegando no clímax final e tem muito potencial, principalmente com a explicação e motivação do vilão, que até entãoera muito rasa.Simplesmente sensacional, nem sei expressar o sentimento. Me trouxe tantas emoções que por mim dava é 10 estrelas. Favoritado com certeza.

Bra fantasy med spice som tyvärr kändes ick ibland, så därav får den inte en femma av mig,

I really dont know why so many people said this part of the series was the most boring one. The amount of times my jaw dropped!! This also had the most spice out of the previous 2 so far, they be going at it at least every other chapter. I still love everything that is happening and already ordered the 4th book while being halfway through.

Me encantó!!! Mil gracias, venía en excelente estado a pesar de que viajó de EUA a Guadalajara y luego a Monterrey.El libro es perfecto, I’m calling iT EL LIBRO DEL AÑO; Jennifer hizo un excelente trabajo. Me encanta el desarrollo que tuvo Poppy

Seriously, I started this book the minute I was able to. Work didn’t matter nor did food or sleep. I needed to know just what was going to happen next after the way the Kingdom of Flesh and Fire ended. Honestly, you won’t be able to put this book down easily. If you loved the first two books, you are going to love this one.The Crown of Gilded Bones of course continues where the previous book left and I can honestly say that the first chapters of this book are intense with information, action and a lot of discoveries. You will have your jaw drop quite a few times in just the beginning.Poppy and Casteel’s relationship is still growing stronger and throughout everything they have to deal with, they keep learning about one another. I feel like they understand each other more and more in each book. It’s not necessarily perfect, but you can’t deny the love these two have for each other.I particularly felt like we are getting to see a side of Casteel that was more vulnerable in this book and it just added a new layer to this character.Poppy is still a badass and in this book, she proves just how far she has come since the first book. I loved that even if she had to mature a lot faster due to everything she learned, she still has a naive side that comes with her age and I feel like it makes her real (I really hope it makes sense).It’s really hard to keep this spoiler free, but just be ready to be tore apart with this book. Jennifer jut knows where to hit us so that it hits us so hard that we have still yet not recovered from reading this book. The feels that this book gave me are so intense.As usual, you will see new faces and some of them I am still trying to think about what I think of them. I just feel like some characters are less discussed to keep us wondering about them or perhaps, it’s just my imagination, but you will have to judge for yourself.Honestly, this book is just filled with new information that you don’t have a lot of time to try to think about what it means before something else hits you. Even in chapters that don’t necessarily have something happening will not let you relax one bit.Jennifer L. Armentrout seems to have the gift to write a book that will make you go through a whirlwind of emotions and will still make us go back knowingly to the world she created to demand to be torn apart just a bit more with each new book.This is one of my favourite book series of hers and I just recommend to anyone who loves fantasy, romance, a kickass heroine and a story that will keep you guessing until the very end.Overall, this book was just as amazing if not more as the first two books and I just can’t wait to see what she has in store for the next books.