Title: A Shadow in the Ember
Series: Flesh and Fire #1
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Blue Box Press, October 19, 2021
Pages: 647
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Born shrouded in the veil of the Primals, a Maiden as the Fates promised, Seraphena Mierel’s future has never been hers. Chosen before birth to uphold the desperate deal her ancestor struck to save his people, Sera must leave behind her life and offer herself to the Primal of Death as his Consort.
However, Sera’s real destiny is the most closely guarded secret in all of Lasania—she’s not the well protected Maiden but an assassin with one mission—one target. Make the Primal of Death fall in love, become his weakness, and then…end him. If she fails, she dooms her kingdom to a slow demise at the hands of the Rot.
Sera has always known what she is. Chosen. Consort. Assassin. Weapon. A specter never fully formed yet drenched in blood. A monster. Until him. Until the Primal of Death’s unexpected words and deeds chase away the darkness gathering inside her. And his seductive touch ignites a passion she’s never allowed herself to feel and cannot feel for him. But Sera has never had a choice. Either way, her life is forfeit—it always has been, as she has been forever touched by Life and Death.
However, Sera’s real destiny is the most closely guarded secret in all of Lasania—she’s not the well protected Maiden but an assassin with one mission—one target. Make the Primal of Death fall in love, become his weakness, and then…end him. If she fails, she dooms her kingdom to a slow demise at the hands of the Rot.
Sera has always known what she is. Chosen. Consort. Assassin. Weapon. A specter never fully formed yet drenched in blood. A monster. Until him. Until the Primal of Death’s unexpected words and deeds chase away the darkness gathering inside her. And his seductive touch ignites a passion she’s never allowed herself to feel and cannot feel for him. But Sera has never had a choice. Either way, her life is forfeit—it always has been, as she has been forever touched by Life and Death.
I finally did it! I realized after reading The War of Two Queens that I should have read this book first, so when I saw that A Soul of Blood and Ash was coming out soon...I figured it was officially time to read this book and A Light in the Flame.
Because I am already fully invested in the Blood and Ash series, it's so hard to separate this book out as its own new thing. I know that it's a prequel spinoff series. These are new characters (for the most part). But it's so tightly woven into the lore that Blood and Ash has already started that it's nearly impossible to review it without considering everything. And there is a LOT of everything to consider.
It's especially hard to separate them when Sera and Ash's story so closely parallels Poppy and Hawke's story. It's a very clever plot device. But the characters voices are so similar, that at times it felt like reading the exact same book, just with Draken instead of Wolven. Again, my rational brain knows that this was done on purpose. They're fulfilling a prophecy and what not. But they are SO similar.
However, getting more world-building and lore surrounding this incredible universe?! I could never be mad about it! The draken are amazing. I'm obsessed with the glimpses of Reaver and Jadis that we get! And I'm obviously looking forward to the rest of the books!!
Ratings
Stars: 5/5
Spice: 2/5
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