Welcome to Ready to be Romanced.

I'm Tori.

And I'm Angela.

And today we're discussing.

From blood and ash solid.

Solid welcome back to the pod.

Oh my gosh.

Thank you for having me, I'm so happy to be here.

My favorite pod.

Thank you I.

Appreciate honestly it is though because I do feel like everything is such a dumpster fire right now in the world that like if I could just listen to you talk about romance books with random people every day like that would be great truly.

The romance genre is saving me from going me off the deep end.

I can't even listen.

I used to listen to a lot of, like, other podcasts that were like, funny, like, you know, like I listened to one that's, that's about like, it's like a medical one, but it's like a comedy one.

And like, even that, like, now they're like, well, let's talk about tariffs.

And I'm like, no, like, don't talk about that.

Like over here in America, it is just no bueno.

So, you know, truly, I thought we could bridge the gap between America and Canada.

Yeah.

Perfect.

I love that we're talking about From Blood and Ash.

Is this your first Jennifer L Armantrope book?

I guess it is, yeah.

I mean, I've never read any of her other stuff.

I know that she has a bunch, but yeah, no, I this is my first of her books that I've I've like actually either remembered reading or read.

It's possible there's not there's.

Truly, I'm going to say this was a slave for me I really like.

Yes, I love this book.

I think that is all.

And I knew that you were going to like it because I feel like it is just like grow.

I don't say it's grown up Twilight, but it is like she clearly grew up reading Trilight and was like, I need something a little bit more like with behind it and was like, yeah, let me do something that's like not vampires, but it's also vampires, but it's not werewolves, but it is werewolves.

Like you're like, what's happening?

Exactly.

It has so many tropes I like.

Like obviously the, the there's the Wolven and the vampires and then or the Atlanteans that are like half vampires, yeah.

It's all so fun to me because I just feel like this was like such AI don't want to say a throwback, but there was a time of my life where like I was very into like, do you remember the series Underworld with like Kate Beckinsale?

It was like a movie.

Oh, yes, it was.

Yeah, it was a movie series.

And I think that like I read that she was really inspired by that.

And I was like, oh, yes, OK.

Because that whole series was very much about hybrids, the same.

And I don't know if you know this about me, but you're talking to like a very, very a big fan of The Vampire Diaries series.

Love, love.

Probably seen that show five times like through.

I love that cast like moves like he kind of actually gives Damien vibes where like I.

Can like.

Like when she's like, he moved so fast.

He moves so fast.

He's so broody and like, you know, like, Oh my God, yeah, I was dying.

You're on route to to pick up #2.

I I'm definitely on route to pick up #2 I'm also super into and looking forward to finding at some point the like POV book from his point of view because that's out there as well.

Yeah, she does.

Like, oh, she's done a whole like prequel series and stuff like that.

Which I'm very.

Excited for because I will say right off the bat, just because I'm coming off of like Onyx Storm and I just feel like this world is so much better built and like I was like, oh, I like understand it.

Yeah, and it reads a little bit less fan ficky, I guess you could say then like the beginning of and like, I love 4th Wing, but I do feel like she wrote Fourth Wing not realizing she was going to write so much more than Fourth Wing.

So I do feel like when Jennifer wrote this book, she maybe thought like, okay, this is just the star and I know it's just the star and I know what I'm gonna write after that.

Like she had like maybe a big white board like with it all mapped out.

But yeah, you can kind of tell that it's like a slow burn.

And I think that's good because I mean, we've discussed via Instagram voice messages the.

Crescent Cities.

Yes, yeah.

It ends up being a good book.

But you're like, wait, what's happening?

Like who am I?

Where am I?

What world is this?

So yeah, I agree.

It's good.

Stuff it's a really good I feel like kind of like fantasy light almost book and I just like not feeling so dumb.

Like I I just feel like there's reveals in this book.

Yeah, make a lot of sense.

And I did see them coming in in most cases, but that's.

Totally.

The clues are there, I think.

Honestly, to be to be fair, when I first read this book, I think I was like shook to my core because I am doing a reread.

Yes I'm pretty sure I was like pretty shocked but know what I read this before a guitar.

I will say I do see a lot of a guitar also influence like.

What's the timeline there?

When did a guitar come out versus when did this come out?

Because this was in 2020.

Yes, and I think a guitar is like 20/14/2015.

Yeah, it's like a much because I remember reading a guitar like way, way a long time ago.

Yeah, I know.

You can see that.

There's like, oh, A twist.

Like she's not somebody's not who you think they are.

Totally and like just the broody and like that is in every book, but like I like the dark 1 is very like king of the night or.

Like, have you ever read Chadam and Bone or that series?

Like that's like a whole other one, like where there's like a dark one.

Like, yeah, OK, we got it.

Yeah, it's.

I but like I eat it up and I also like I know this is like problematic, but like I love like a virginity like like like the trope she was obviously like because you were also a big historical reader.

She was like, obviously hadn't had sex and didn't know everything about like.

Kind of like she knew much more than your average Joe.

Like she talked to the maids.

The maids told her exactly the mechanics of like what goes down.

So she like knew how it worked, but like had never seen a Dick.

You know, like, like that's like the line.

You know how to ride on top?

Yeah.

Like she just like was a little dumb about it, but like she had heard like she did the the book work and she wrote the book report and got an A but like was a little stupid about it, you know, like just like wasn't like she knew it in like a more like book smart way, not in like a street smart way.

So like when he was like and and also like girl was horny like.

Yeah.

Like she was a maiden, but like she didn't like the maiden for her was like the terminology.

It was not about her virginity.

I feel like it was about like something more different.

So I don't know.

But I also liked it in this book.

Sometimes I don't love it.

Like it's not well done and it's like it gives you the ick.

But this this didn't read that way.

And I think it's because the maiden capital M was her title, right?

And it didn't necessarily have to do with her being a virgin.

That was just part of it.

Like she was the maiden because, well, we still don't really actually know why they made her the maiden.

I guess her blood.

Yeah, or like her power.

Who's to say?

Yeah, for some reason.

That's another another.

Yeah, they were like because you are XYZ, you can you are the maiden and therefore like should be kept pure.

But it wasn't.

Yes, you're pure and that's why we like you.

Exactly.

And I love like a bad boy, but that like in bed, he's like takes his time and like, yeah, yeah, yeah.

He's he never like, he does like kind of tease her a little bit, but it never feels like he's like looking down on her.

When he teases her, it's like more sparring.

Did you reread this physical book or did you listen to the audio book?

I listened to the audio book the first time I read it and then the time I listened to.

It so I read the book, started reading the book and then was like, OK, I'm not going to finish in time.

So I downloaded the audio book just to like go back and forth because I could like do it on the subway or whatever.

And I very much dislike the accent in the audio book.

Like it really threw me for a loop And like at one point they they do that he has an accent but for some reason that didn't click for me.

And like the person who narrates it, like God bless, but it's not a good.

Like British or something but like.

Hoity toity British, not like hot British.

Totally.

And like I fucking hate like this is a lot of the reason why I prefer my Kindle over audiobooks is I fucking hate when it's, it's like not dual POV, but like obviously dialogue with a man and it's a woman doing like the man.

He's doing voices like I would prefer you just speak as a narrow like because when I'm if I were to do read an audio book, like I wouldn't want voices like I'm not asking for a theatrical performance.

I'm asking you to literally just read me the book, you know, Yes.

So I don't know.

I think we obviously listen to the same audio book, but there is a graphic audio book.

It was.

Just like you had to pay.

I was like, it wasn't included, no.

No no, mine came with my Kindle download.

Yes, yes.

So I was like, I was like, I'm not paying for.

This I will pay the extra $0.99 for the audio but not more.

Not the graphic.

What if I?

Didn't like it?

Totally.

But I'm assuming that's like a full cast and stuff like that, so I'm sure I would like that a lot better.

But yeah, I fucking hate when it's like when there isn't.

I guess they only really do that when it's dual period.

I had to stop 'cause I knew like a good part was coming, so I would stop listening to the audio book just so I could read it 'cause I was like, this is really like, not for nothing, but giving me a little bit of the ick with him.

No, it it was for sure if I hadn't read it.

Like I don't like him.

Yeah, I don't think I would have liked it at all.

But it's OK.

OK, let's get into It's a spoiler warning.

We're going to be discussing from Blood and Ash, but not anything that comes after.

And just a content warning.

There'll be a brief discussion of violence and death.

The book is written by Jennifer L Armentrout.

It was published March 29th, 2020 and our main character is Poppy, who we meet playing cards at a brothel.

I'm sorry, her name is not Poppy.

Yeah, that's right, Penelope, whatever the funnel.

Fee, Penelope.

That's one thing that I like always fucking hate about these books is like they always have like the craziest names.

Also, I think a huge spoiler, and maybe it isn't actually, but like because there are normal names in this book.

Obviously Poppy's normal.

Yeah, when it's Hawk, I just knew some.

I was like.

But you're like, that's not his name.

You're like, that can't be his name.

I don't know.

His whole vibe was like SUS from the beginning, though.

They're like, and he just appeared.

He would never be named her personal guard.

And I was like, yeah, no, he's going to be her personal guard.

And they're going to boom like eventually, like that's where this book is going.

And then there's more to it.

But you know, I think that Penelope is probably the world's first name.

So I'm glad that they she had nickname.

Poppy makes it 100%.

And she's playing cards with the royal guards.

She is in a disguise.

She borrowed some like servant's clothes because she is the maiden.

We will talk about what that means like throughout this recap.

But she has a special power.

So she's like mortal but mortal.

Plus, she has this special power where she can sense people's sadness.

Yeah, and they really don't give you much to go off in this first scene of, like, what's the world that we live in?

You know, like they're like, you know, this is, you can tell it's like a medieval world like cuz there's a bar and there's like, you know, like, like barmaids and yeah, guards and things like that.

And, and she's like, I'm in a maid's outfit, which gave me like Bridgerton vibes.

Like when Penelope, which is funny.

Penelope, Penelope goes to like in the in the show, like, and she's like wearing the like the maid outfit.

Like that's the lady whistle down.

Like it's like not a disguise, but that's fine.

And for some reason they wear masks, like people are just wearing masks in this world, like to disguise themselves.

So she's wearing like a masquerade mask and A and a maid outfit playing card.

Totally.

Which kind of seems convenient because she also has a very she's like veiled.

As yeah, when she's the maiden she's like a creepy, like wearing a white veil like nobody can see her face type thing.

And she wears gloves because she can remove people's pain by her touch.

Yeah, Which is like, really wild.

That's like, they throw that out very quickly.

They're like, yeah, I just like recognizing all these people's sadness and like, like, OK.

Magic powers and I do wonder if there's other people like her because she's the only one that we meet.

Yeah, I mean, there must be.

There must be She lives a really sheltered life in this Kingdom.

There's like a queen and a king, but she lives in this castle with a a Duke and a Duchess.

Yeah, she's like under their protection.

She's 18.

On her 19th birthday, she will ascend.

We find out kind of what that is later in the book.

But she has an older brother, Ian, who has already ascended.

Yeah, At this point we just think it's like a like a ritual to like become immortal, basically like you become.

Did you ever see that movie where like they become pretty?

What's that movie?

Yes, like uglies.

Yeah, the.

Uglies.

I never heard the but it's a terrible movie.

Yeah.

But I do feel like it's like that, like you're like, you'd be turned 19 and you can like be pretty like it'd be immyrtle and like that's all it is.

And like there's no sort of like downside to it.

And her brother was allowed to do it because she was made the maiden.

But typically the people that ascend are only the second third.

Third child of the families that live in this Kingdom.

Or the first is allowed to ascend, but the second and third are given at the right, given to the temple.

You're right.

Yeah.

So the because he's a second child, he typically would have been given away to the temple, But because she was the maiden he was allowed to ascend to like stay with her.

And they give these these kids to the temple because there are these things called Craven.

Sorry.

We're trying.

To like fantasy novel like no I know.

We we actually sound crazy exciting this, but they're.

Craven.

Craven.

And they are.

Which are like zombies, basically, yeah.

They're like like a blood angry.

Yeah, and we don't really know much about them yet.

We start to, like in the next scene, get a little bit more info when they're talking about the mist and like the sickness that comes with the mist, which actually just turns out to be the curse, which actually just turns out to be Craven.

I think it's one of like, there is no like actual illness.

Yes, I was kind of like annoyed by that because I'm like, this is so wordy for like the curse.

It's it's just, yeah, the period that they they decline into being Craven.

But I think that this whole book obviously hinges and like so many other fantasy novels is that like the townspeople don't know shit about shit and there's only like folklore and.

Rumors it's like here and it's also like systemic, you know, like the king and queen and the Dutch and the Dutchess are like clearly part of something and like but at the same time like if they question it, like they could die and also become Craven.

So they're kind of like, OK, we don't want this.

We don't know.

We don't want to give up our kids, but also like don't want to die.

So they're like being told that the gods and goddesses are keeping them safe by if they every year give up their children, their second and third sons and daughters to the temples.

Exactly.

And in their mind, that means that they're going to become like priests and priestesses like and prey and shit like monks, like they're just like, their kids are going to be like Buddhist monks, basically.

Yes, which are immortal beings, but they're not.

But they're not.

They're deaf.

But yeah, but we find that later on that is not true.

None of it's true, but either way, like this is what Poppy knows is true.

And she's just kind of like, in this bar, like hearing all of these things about, yes, what's happening.

A possible Craven attack and Victor who is one of her personal guards, like kind of a father figure to her.

Yeah, like Witcher vibes from Victor for sure.

Yes, very.

I feel like Giles and he enters the brothel.

So a waitress who had recognized her as the maiden says, go upstairs to the 6th door on the left, and she goes.

She runs up there and it is already occupied by none other than Hawk Flynn, a royal guard who just transferred from Carcedonia a few months prior.

Which is the capital.

So he's like well known guard.

Well known and everyone's fucking obsessed with him because he's so strong and so hot and so good at being a guard.

He kisses her like immediately because.

He thinks it's the maid, which like, actually, now that we know so much about Hawk, like who's this maid to him, You know, like that he knows her Cape.

Nobody.

I think, I think that I think that The thing is, is that he.

Knew it was her the whole time.

Yes, this is all set up.

She was sent to the 6th store or whatever but it's under the guise that it's like.

He fucks this maid all the time, yeah.

Exactly like I'm just hooking up with this maid, but he is what is his game plan here?

Because obviously it is to we find out later on.

It's big spoiler alert.

Yeah, sorry everyone if you didn't get it in the beginning.

Spoilers.

Yeah, huge spoiler that 'cause I don't.

Think it makes sense to talk about this in a in like a?

In a way that we don't know that he is.

Not right 'cause we do know yeah no.

So his whole game plan is that he needs to get close to her because his brother.

So Hawk is not Hawk.

Hawk is actually the dark 1 slash the second sun Prince of this land that is like basically considered like a yeah, like a territory that like is at war with the the territory that we existed in this world.

And so his brother has been taking and has been kidnapped and so taking prisoner.

And so he wants to use the maiden to get her him back.

And so his whole plan is like, I'm going to get close to the maiden, which I don't really get like why he thinks the like why, why her?

Like why did he pick her?

I don't, I don't know.

I do know it's because the Queen loves her.

Oh.

That's right, she's like the Queen's BFF and he thinks that's good leverage.

Yes, good leverage to get Prince.

Malik it just seems like a the long con, you know, like what?

A long con.

This is the part that I don't get is why does he make her fall in love with him?

I don't think he does.

So his intention was to get close to her and take her right away.

Like he was not meant to like make him her fall in love with him like he but.

He loves her and has.

To yeah, like it happens, like it just happens that she's so cute and pretty and brave and smart and funny, but like, you know, like very pick me girl, but she.

Yeah, they always are.

They.

Always, but his whole game plan is that he's going to infiltrate the castle as a guard, which he already has done, and he already noticed her noticing him.

So like he's like, ah, like she is in debate.

So when he hears that she's in the red Pearl, like he's like tells that Lady to send her up because he's he wants to, to just like get close to her.

So he's like laying the groundwork because eventually he just wants her to trust him, not like fall in love with him.

Totally, and it's the perfect ploy.

And we find out that Lady can like read minds or some shit, like I don't remember.

There's a lot of other powers going on in this world that we don't get a ton of info.

The powers are a little bit Gray area.

They're Gray at this point, which I'm OK with because it is Poppy's POV and as of this.

Point that much like we really don't.

Totally.

She doesn't know anything so it like makes a lot of sense, but he's asking her to like take off her mask and.

Yeah, like he he's like, I can tell that this isn't you, Britta.

Like the maid.

Come on, take off your mask.

Like, I'll do whatever you want.

Like he's like, basically like volunteering to, like, I don't know, just, like, be her sex slave.

It's unclear why he like, says all of that, but she's like, Nah, but she's a good girl.

She.

Yeah, and she can't be found out and she has to remain pure.

So this is like already really scandalous for her.

To even have gone to this place which is like clearly like a a brothel like with a bar in it.

Kieran, who's also one of the Royal guards, informs Hawk through a closed door as Hawk and Poppy continue to like kiss and and banter that someone is there.

Like a someone is there on.

Boys, but like, I don't know his.

Attention.

Now I'm like thinking back, I'm like, who is this that he's talking about?

Because Kieran's obviously in on it.

Yeah, I'm not sure at this point, but he's like, stay here, but she leaves out the window.

Do you think he would have was planning to take her that night?

Yeah, I think there's multiple points before he actually gets to take her that he was like going to attempt to take her.

Right, because that Lady wouldn't have sent her up to that room.

So I think like she sent her up there so that Hawk could like get her.

Like seduce her and then.

Maybe not even seduce her, maybe just like straight up kidnap her.

And he just was like, Nah, this sounds like like, I think I could just, you know, like kiss her.

And that would be cool, too.

Yeah, or I lull her into.

Now I am super intrigued to read his point of view.

I'm curious.

Me too.

Me too.

I'm very curious.

Yeah, she leaves in the middle of the night and goes back to the castle.

But she regrets it.

She wants to get that.

She wants to get it.

She does.

She thinks he's cute.

Victor and Poppy have this thing where they will go to like the townspeople's houses who are in pain and help them, and we see Poppy use her senses to a person who is suffering from the curse, which means that he is turning Craven because he was bitten by a Craven.

Yeah, they're like assisted suiciding people basically.

Like, because what will happen is if somebody's found out to be Craven, like they're not just like, killed, they're dragged to the center of town and like, put on display and like, assassinated, which I think is really crazy.

So instead of that, Victor and Poppy are part of this group of people who are going out there and like helping people die in a like dignified way because there really is no cure for it.

Once you become Craven, like you're just, you're Craven.

So instead of like letting you get to that point, they're helping them.

And then Papi, because she has this gift, is also sort of like taking away their pain, whether it's physical or like emotional, you know, which is like convenient, you know?

So the back of the castle one night and she's talking with Lord Mazine who is an ascended that like lives in the castle and is like an awful guy.

OK, like it's just an awful human.

They both hear a scream and it is a lady of the castle who is partially undressed, drained of her blood.

Her neck is snapped and she has two basically vampire wounds in her neck.

They are like shocked because this doesn't look like a classic Craven attack that is like for like.

Yeah, 'cause when the Craven are attacking, they are biting, but they're like basically just mauling people to the death.

They're not like there's no, like there's blood everywhere.

It's disgusting.

Whereas this is like there's no blood and like it's just like a puncture in the neck.

But at this point, like does Poppy know that like is vampirism or like vampire or whatever they call it later?

Like is that something that she's aware of?

Is that like a myth at all?

Or is it just something?

It might be I I will say one thing about this book series, it doesn't seem like like I feel like very classic and fantasy novels.

They have like access to like a library or whatever and they're always reading up on like.

Yeah, with the myth and like the story.

Yeah, but it doesn't seem like that that's the case here because.

She's kept so sheltered that.

So sheltered, but even Victor doesn't like he was like OK so I guess.

Like nobody recognizes these two puncture burns as like maybe being from this like old myth myth.

Like, is it that long ago?

The way that we're talking about it, it actually just triggered something.

No, they think it's an Atlantean because.

Yes, the Atlanteans.

Yes, because the they are like that is a old territory that like no longer exists.

But they were evil and they sucked people's blood like vampires.

And so when the Duke and Duchess given a statement that, yeah, the death was caused by a dissenter, which is a person, a townsperson, that basically doesn't.

Believe in the ascension, Yeah.

Yes, doesn't want their kids or whatever to be given at the right or like they don't believe about like the royalty and the monarchy of it all.

Yeah so like I just chat GPTD.

What are Atlanteans in my thread about?

A long time ago, Atlanteans ruled over and lived alongside mortals and balance.

But the ascended twisted that balance and they fed off mortals in secret and became corrupted and started spreading lies that Atlanteans were the enemies.

Eventually they started hunting and Atlanteans and claimed their territory was cursed and that is the land that hawk is the Prince of his Atlantia.

Exactly.

TLTR.

They're confused at what happened with this person because they're like, hey, it's not a Craven, so it must be Atlanteans.

But we don't know that those people still exist, so they are suspect.

Yeah, exactly.

And I do think that, like, Poppy just is like so uneducated that she's just like, this is crazy.

But she still is like, notices that it's weird looking like she has really good, like sixth sense.

Like she's like this doesn't seem quite right for a Craven attack.

Totally.

There's some ways in which she's really smart and some ways where she's like, really?

She never puts a two and two together though.

So a few more nights pass and she's on a nightly walk and one of her guards, Rylan who she.

Is like Biffles with.

She's like really good friends with.

Really good Friends with gets shot with an arrow because someone is trying to kidnap Poppy but Victor gives her lessons in secrecy about how do you fight people.

So she stabs the person trying to kidnap her.

Basically at this point the assassin says something to Poppy and he's like I don't care what he has planned for you.

Like I just want you dead.

Yeah, whereas like, his, he was clearly told to kidnap her, not kill her.

And he's like, I don't really care, like what he wants me to do with you because you just tried to stab me, so whatever.

And then she, like, cuts off the guy's arm, right?

She's really badass in that way.

Yeah, she's like totally dismembers this person.

And so, yeah, of course he doesn't want to, like, follow.

He's like, I want to murder you.

And the royal guards come out of the castle and discover Poppy there, as Ryland is like passing away at Ryland's funeral.

Everyone's there to pay his respect.

And Hawk is kind of guarding Poppy extra because of this attempt.

As Victor goes to pay his respects.

We kind of get this as like the seed that he might become one of her personal guards because.

He stepped forward.

Yeah.

Yeah, he she is out one guard.

Yeah, and I guess she always has to have two, which is kind of crazy, but.

And we get kind of more about like that there might be something wrong because Poppy, her like lady in wait.

Tawny and Victor go to a weekly City Council meeting that the Duke and Duchess preside over.

And there's this couple who are requesting that their third born son, Tobias.

Like not be given to the right because their other son, their first born son died.

Like got sick.

Like, yeah, he just got, like, the flu or something, you know, like, totally irrelevant, but, like, died.

So, like, can we keep this one?

They're like, Nah.

But they refuse and Poppy is like really upset about this.

Fair well, she just doesn't really get like what what's happening and of course, like we don't like we are also not supposed to get it and it makes us also think like OK, why though?

Like it doesn't doesn't seem strange that they wouldn't just like let this one family keep their kid like.

Yeah, and she is starting to have of some like doubts in her mind because she sees this like pretty brutal act and she she does like.

Twice, like two things.

She saw the the Melissa and then she saw Rylan and she we also learned that she already had a guard killed Haylin.

It starts with an HI, don't remember.

So she's just like, lots of shit's been going down around Poppy.

She is doubting.

She's like.

Also why are the mortals like defending the lands when the ascended are like a lot?

Stronger, faster.

Like why are all the guards mortals when there's all of these like strong vampire people, like just chilling, you know why?

Why are people allowed to die at all?

And we'll see that later when there's that attack.

We get the official announcements from the Duke that Hawk is going to be her new personal guard.

Which is just like, yeah, no shit.

Like we saw that coming.

Like the second he appeared on the page A.

1,000,000 miles away.

And she's like, still shocked though.

She's like but he's so new.

Yeah.

There's other people that were should have been ahead of him, like girlfriend.

They did make some like good points about like how he is from Carcedonia and stuff like that.

Like it?

It did make sense.

But we also find that out that it's all a lie, like he's.

Not yeah, but he actually isn't.

So then the Duke is like take off your veil, Poppy, which by the way, she hasn't done and like isn't supposed to do around anyone, but like her guards, the Duke and like her, even her lady, even Tawny like she's really not supposed to show Tawny her face.

She just does when she's in her bedroom.

And this is where we like find out that she's like also sort of like disfigured.

Yeah, she has scars on the left side of her face.

And the Duke says like one side is beautiful and then the other one is like grotesque or whatever.

And Hawk, the gentleman that he is, he says that both sides of her face are.

Yeah, is beautiful, Yeah.

And later the Duke is going to say like, that's he was just being nice when he said that.

And it's like, OK.

Brutal, but he pisses off the Duke when he says that and she like smirks back at him.

So he summons her to his office and basically canes her, lashes her.

It's like, it's sexual assault, like sexual violence in nature because he makes her like strip off the the top of her.

Yeah, they kind of give this like an essay overtone when it it is, I guess.

But it is more like abuse rather than like assault.

Like he's not and it's it's not.

There's no sexual acts happening other than like, her being the maiden and being like this virginal character who is then forced to, you know, like, strip, like you said.

And so that's like, and yeah, with Lord Mazine and all of that watching like it does have that sexual overtone and it is really icky and really disgusting and really like, I think she writes it in a way that is, I want to say well done.

And I know like respectful way but it is still meant to like give you that uncomfortable.

Feeling.

Feeling yeah, for sure, like these are bad guys.

Like they're bad.

Yeah, yeah.

Like Lord Mazin is holding down her hands so she can't cover her her breasts.

And this is like a rumor around the castle as well that the Duke and Lord Mazin do this to other people.

Everyone called him like his lessons and stuff like that.

When Poppy leaves like she has to like stay in her bed chamber for two days, Yes, because she can like barely walk and.

Say she does tell Hawk, like Hawk is like, oh, like I have to bring you to the Duke's office like and she like blanches and he like notices that.

And then later he they refer to like his lessons and like Poppy and Tawny both like or like.

Eek, like Flint.

Yeah, they're like, not the lessons.

And he's like, what's that about, like?

Yeah, he's like trying to figure out what actually happens, right?

And but he he doesn't know.

He suspects, so he must suspect like she can't walk and like.

I find it.

Wild that he doesn't know like later that he's like so shocked by it.

Like I think it's pretty obvious, but I guess it's from her POV so.

Yeah, that's actually something you're right, that doesn't actually make sense because he hates all of these people.

Like he knows there are bad people.

Maybe he doesn't realize that.

Maybe he thought because she was the maiden, she was protected.

Yeah, that's it.

That's probably it.

That's but still, it's like she was in her bed chamber after meeting with the Duke.

Like clearly something happened.

She's like, I don't know, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out, but.

Totally.

They want to make it very dramatic later when he does.

Eventually, like yes.

I can brutally murder him because he touched her.

I love I love I love a touch her and die trope too touch.

Her and die even though she's like I can take care of myself.

Exactly which we see in this scene when she is staring out her window and she notices that there are torches on the rise and the rise is like.

Yeah, it's like a mountain.

So this is like very Lord of the Rings, like this whole like wearing a a keep.

Like we're surrounded by a fortress.

And so the torches on the rise, it's like Gondor calls for aid.

Like very much like putting if you're like, I don't know what this pitch is talking about.

No, but like, it's like they lit the torches to like let them know that like an attack is happening because like there's no cell phone.

So like, what are they going to do?

You know, so they light a torch, they light a beacon.

The Beacon.

Exactly, and because she is who she is, she fucking runs out of the castle using not.

Only runs out of the castle like climbs the roof, like in a dress, in her nightie, in her slippers.

Of course, of course she does.

They always do.

But she.

Like always do, I would change my clothes.

Like change your clothes.

Hawk says that later.

He's like, just change your shoes next time.

Crazy.

Yes, which is like 100% it's like this is when she should they should have had a scene where she like steals like a stable hands like pants and some yeah, it keeps them in the floorboard of her bed chamber or whatever.

But right, but it has to be that she is like she's fighting them in her nightie like type thing and her slippers, but she's still able to keep up.

Yeah, she escapes through like she knows all, like the Servant, right, exits and stuff like that and.

Like where the guards actually do protect the rise from like where they where they stand guard.

Like she's like, sees like a guy who's like a an Archer.

Yes, yes.

And she goes up there and she kicks some Craven's ass, but she bumps into none other than.

Hawk, who is clearly following her.

Yes, who like Well, you could spot this bitch from.

A mile away and who's Yeah, she's like, she's so like covert, but she's like running around her nightgown.

I like this too though because she's like able to knock him to the ground.

Like I do feel like he likes that she gives it to him back.

We should also mention at this point, she does not think that Hawk has recognized her from the Red Pearl.

Like she has said a few times, like, oh, I'm going to talk and he's going to know immediately who I am, but then he doesn't.

He's going to see my face and he's going to know who I am because like the second part of my face or whatever will match and he doesn't.

So she's like, he clearly wasn't that impressed by me.

And she is has a hood over her head at this.

Point I'd say yeah and so like, I guess like he she tries to run away from him, he knocks her to the ground and she like has her dagger on him and the dagger's but she's like oh, he recognizes my dagger.

But like, lol, he's like, actually I knew who you were the whole time.

Like yeah, the second you took your veil off, like and then also now we know he knew even before that, but he tells her now and she's like totally embarrassed.

Yes, yes.

Like it's good.

Like putting her putting two to two together, like she's like, fuck, like she's he saw my Bloodstone dagger.

Like all of that is like fun because you're like, oh, this girlie's putting yeah, putting two and two together.

But it's like, bitch, you have no idea.

You have, yeah.

Now looking back on it, we're like, oh, none of this matters.

But like at the time you're like shit.

Like what's he gonna do?

Like you're like, you're in her POV 100%.

And especially as like also like I guess if I have read this as like a 18 year old girl, like I would be like panicked for her, you know, like now having read 100 million romance fantasy novels, I know the drill and that it will be okay.

But this?

Would have blown my I.

Would have been losing it like this would have triggered a panic attack in me.

No, literally, like if I actually did read this year, right, like after Twilight or something like that, like I would have actually, I would have been like screaming, crying, throwing up.

Yeah, because like that I can recall back to a time when like you're like, you don't want people to, like, find out like you did something or like that it was you or, or even like, like a boy, like you have a crush, like he read like, you know, like you don't want them to know that it was you.

So she's like, like, but eventually he's like, it's fine, girly, girly bop like.

I'll bring you back to your room.

Though.

And then she's like, I like, I'm in love with him because instead of being like, don't ever do this again, he's just, like, back, Yeah.

He's it's like very much where Zayden is like, no, you can take care of yourself and.

Deep, yes, they're a violent little yes 'cause he says that about her too, like, oh.

He says you're violent.

Actually, I do remember him saying that and I was like, oh, is that like a?

But I guess maybe it can't be because this was written before 4th Wing but.

Yeah, but maybe that's again more 4th wing borrowing.

Yeah.

Borrowing, borrowing.

Nothing's new in this genre anymore.

There is a public meeting with the townspeople and the Duke and the Duchess about the Craven attack and all of our main characters like Pops.

Off though, like this is like an intense like little summit.

This is like really fun because.

I can imagine this like very Hunger Games.

See, like the Duke and the Duchess are like really dressed up like like Alfie from The Hunger Games, like very like crazy outfits or whatever.

Yeah, capital city vibes.

Yes I'm again spoiler alert but this is being made into ATV show and I'm like.

Yeah, yeah.

I don't remember what the timeline is on that though.

I, I don't think we have any because it actually just got announced in December.

So it's only four months passed its announcement.

So I don't think that they're they've made any money moves, but this is going to be such a fun scene.

Yeah, you can see it like it's really well written.

It's really well written and it's just the visuals of this, like them standing on the balcony looking down at the townspeople in the lake courtyard or whatever.

The Duke and Duchess are talking about how they spoke with the gods.

The gods actually allowed the Craven to reach the rise because they were angry, because there's dissenters among them.

Yeah, it's like really crazy that all of these people think it's like, so they can speak to the gods.

It's like, hmm, that's suspicious.

Like the gods will just tell them, tell them whatever, you know.

Like I do feel like it comes across like very if you're looking from the outside and you can see why there's so many dissenters for sure.

Totally.

Totally.

And there's this one man who he was also at the City Council meeting, but he starts shouting and being like, we want to know what is happening to the third and fourth children that are.

Yeah, they're like, we've never seen them like.

They're not like we don't know that they're actually safe and stuff like that, so.

Well, because half of the crowd is or most of the crowd is like terrified, like so scared because, and she can like recognize that emotion.

But then there's part of the crowd that is like, like angry, not scared, Like they're mad.

And it's like, that's not the right reaction to have right now.

Like why are they so angry?

And those must be dissenters.

And she's like putting that together too, which is like a big deal, I think.

But this is where name drop book book name drop from Blood and Ash.

Yes, he throws a Craven hand at the Duke and the Duchess and yells from blood and ash we will rise.

Which like what does that fucking?

Mean I don't, I don't actually know.

So like when I thought about the title of the book, like before I realized that they said it like as their like slogan.

I thought it was like from blood and Ash like because like the blood is a vampire.

That's the Atlanteans blood, I guess.

Yeah, ashes, that they're no longer existing in this world or whatever.

You know, I'm not sure about the ash part.

The blood part just is like vampires, you know?

Yeah, blood vampires.

So that's what I thought.

But it doesn't make sense in a colloquial way.

Like kind of like we say this everyday kind of way from blood and ash, we will ride.

I think they're saying like from like slaughter, like we'll like we're going to murder you all and there'll be blood and ash and then we will rise.

But.

Yes, nice saying, but he's like quickly arrested.

And because like Angela's saying, Poppy is noticing her power shift a little bit, she goes to the Duchess, who's kinder than the Duke, and asks her what this is about.

The Duchess says that the same thing happened with the first maiden because Poppy is technically the second maiden.

Oh yeah, that's her.

Yeah, that her her powers who died to kind of evolve.

Yeah, the Dark One quote.

On the So they killed her, say the Dark One killed her, but like, do we actually know what happened?

Because again, spoiler alert, the dark one is cats.

Yeah, it's it's hot at this moment.

So I doubt that he killed her.

I it's probably just something to make the Dark One look like the Dark One, but basically the the Duchess is saying that mirroring the ascension her ascension, her powers begin to evolve as well.

This led the Dark One to kill her.

I think also like with the first maiden it wasn't the dark one didn't kill her.

I think that it's like we find out that, if I remember correctly, that the ascended killed her because like she was also started questioning things just like Poppy and like, you know, like she's like they control the narrative around her and the right and like they had her like basically like disposed of, you know, like because she's you know, she stepped on the line.

So they were like, got to go.

But they're like, oh, the Dark One killed her, you know, but it's like a big, big warning sign for Poppy, you know, like if you disobey, like you will, you know, be found unworthy.

They keep saying that the like she was found unworthy by the gods but like in reality they just murdered her.

Yes, and that's why she has to be like not only a virgin, but like an upstanding citizen.

Right.

And like the ascension at this point to Poppy is becoming this immortal being.

But like you have to be found worthy by the gods, you know, And like, but I don't think that, you know, like we at this point know anything about the ascension.

So like we don't realize like that's has nothing to do with it.

Exactly.

It's not a real thing.

So we get kind of a side quest here where Poppy sneaks out of her room to go to this place, right?

Like library esque thing to look for the.

Library scene Well, so this we like haven't really talked a lot about Tawny, but like she's actually I love this character of Tawny like I feel like she's like a really good side character who doesn't get a lot of beef later on in the book, like a lot of like meat on the bone like she sort of because they leave her behind but like she's like her BFF, she takes care of her she's like but she's also a very real character She's like, I actually don't want to go with you on your quest to the capitol.

I don't want to die, but you know whatever.

And but I guess this whole time her whole life, Tony sneaks her books Tony will go to the library and she'll get her books that she's not supposed to read like Poppy's not supposed to read like fiction.

She's supposed to only read like, really like chase things.

Yeah.

But yeah, she's like, ran out of stuff to read.

So she's like, I'm gonna go go like search for.

Smart books.

She's one of us.

She's.

One of us, she wants to go get her book talk read.

Literally.

Literally.

So she gets this diary about this.

Which I want to read now like I.

Need to no, literally I was like, she should make, if she hasn't already, a companion novel to say.

Like very much Harry Potter, where she Newt's commander books or the companion books to hear about, They're just like these little history books.

I love that she has to hide because she overhears the Duke talking but they end up leaving and Hawk appears because again he's like trying to guard her and he's like how the fuck did you like leave your room?

And she's like on the ledge, she's like outside the window like cuz they go into the room and she's like I gotta hide, let me go out the window.

Insane.

It's insane, but they have like a fun moment where he's teasing her about 'cause he's like, what are you reading?

And she's like, I will kill myself.

If you look at this book, imagine a relatable queen and but he like grabs it and then reads a little bit of it and he's like Poppy, like Dirty girl, you're the maiden like.

Should we continue what we were continuing in the red Pearl and like, yeah, this whole time like I would have, I would have fucking.

Like.

I would have been like, let's go aye, aye, captain, this this whole time.

Like it is like very clear that Hawk is not a rule follower, but like in more than an like an appropriate way, I guess.

Like he's not just teasing, like he does not care if he gets caught.

And it's like very clear, you know what I mean?

Like so like I should have had like when I first read this, I should have been like, oh, you know, he's not the like who he says he is.

Like I did sort of, but I did always think that he just was like, I don't know, like a cool guy, like a like AI don't know.

He plays it very much so, like he could get caught any second with her, talking to her, lifting her veil, distracting her with kisses like.

Sexy.

That's.

What?

I guess that's true.

I guess that's true.

But it does make it like, kind of crazy that he would just be so chill doing all of that when, like, the Duke could, like, turn the corner and, like, chop his head off, you know?

So clearly he knows that he's protected from that.

I will say the one thing I don't like about this book and this like trope is like it does suck when like Poppy because she has no experience with guys and like and like stuff like that that it like.

Like, this would be me for sure at this age, though.

Yeah.

Like somebody tells you something.

You're like she's.

And this is the first guy that's seen her fucking face at this point.

And her face had not blanched away.

Like she thinks that she's cool, like enjoys talking to her, is flirting with her.

And like I think also like not for nothing, but later on in the book when like things do hit a head, especially hit a head, especially when they're like in the tent or whatever or like in the woods.

Like she's just like the POV in her head or like the narration that she has going on in her head about allowing him to do this is like so relatable.

Like remember when you.

Were like, I liked it so much.

I think, yeah, it's like this.

Like the first time somebody ever.

Like, yeah, you're.

Like, yeah.

And you're like, wait, is this cool?

Should I be doing this?

Like, it's fine.

Like it's OK.

Like, it's all good, you know, like so crazy, but.

Whenever I think of these books, I think I'm like, oh, is this like true love?

And I'm like, how would she know?

Though how would she know?

How would she know?

She has never met, although I do.

Think she gives herself like I give her credit towards the end when she like is like out on him immediately when she finds out that he but she's like Nah.

Like, no, I I wouldn't have been probably.

There would have been some, some like trying to make it seem fine that he was.

IRL, yeah, they're like.

Well, he's it so bad that he's the dark one?

Like really?

And I'm so bad.

IRL are the dark ones and I'm always trying.

I am always making excuses.

Like so funny.

Yeah, I think that's like the one kind of main thing I don't think about.

This is just like, of course she's obsessed with him.

Like of course, of course I would be too.

It makes so much sense.

Not that that doesn't make their love real, but like, I don't know, it does.

I feel like it.

Does take away from like the reality of it a little bit?

Like I don't wanna see the realism, but like the idea that like this could happen to anyone is like very, very far fetched.

Like, I don't think so.

Exactly.

But it's a nice story, we'll give them that.

The next day it's the rite which is really exciting, so Tony and Poppy are preparing to go.

This is the first rite that Poppy gets to go to.

Did.

This remind you at all of like Akatar like like any of these like ceremonies that they would have like in the.

Woods.

Oh yeah.

What is the one in the first book like?

Camel Camelini.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Kalani.

I always call it Calabarine.

Yes, yes.

But like, it's so like.

And of course she's wearing a flowy red like it's.

Yeah, and.

Which I didn't actually understand why.

Like so this is the first time that Poppy's being allowed to not wear white and she doesn't have to wear her veil because she's going to have a mask on.

Nobody will recognize her anyway.

But like why?

Why?

Like why is she allowed to do this?

Like what's the point?

Is this like preparing her for ascension or like?

They don't explain why she's allowed to go to this one.

I, I have no idea, but it's like a huge thing because she looks hot.

Oh yeah, she's.

Hot.

Yeah.

It's like going to prom.

Like she got to get dressed up and do her hair and like, we're we're all for it.

Like, I'm very happy for her.

Totally.

Why was she allowed?

Unclear.

And Agnes, who we saw at the beginning of the book.

Oh yeah, the wife of one of the Craven that she saved.

It's like you're in danger, girl.

Like that.

Whoopi Goldberg or Quo.

Yeah, yeah, don't.

From Ghosts.

Yeah, she like, doesn't heed her advice, and Tawny goes and mingles with other people, so it's just Poppy.

But Hawk arrives and takes Poppy.

Well, he like is going to go take her to her bedroom, but he's like, let's go to the garden instead and he.

Yeah, like let's go to a second location.

No.

Yeah, you.

Never go to a second location.

It was strange because like, she's like, I'm just gonna go to bed because like, I want Tony to like have fun tonight.

And she's not having any fun because she's standing next to me like just like I have to be boring.

Like she shouldn't have to be boring.

And so she's like, I'm going to go to bed and Hawks like, no, like let's go be bad like by walking in the gardens.

But she doesn't want to go in the garden and.

Sinker.

Well, and like she's scared to go in the gardens because that's where Rylan was murdered.

And it's like really like, I think weighed on her since then.

So she's still a little bit like not loving that spot.

And he's like, the only way to get over your fear is to like just like deal with it.

And it's like so with you, though, like I deal with it with you because like, sure, like that sounds great.

You know, like she's like, sounds great to me too.

And they share a moment under Willow tree again.

This is going to be, I feel like, really beautiful in the TV series.

Well, I also like that it's like supposedly like pitch black under this Willow tree and like they can't see or hear anything or they can't see anything and nobody can see them.

And this reminds me of like very much so like you're like sneaking around in like the park, like after out, you know what I mean?

Like this is like very, like everything they're doing is like so sweet to her like.

Sweet.

I yeah, I just like that part will be, I think really picturesque, very like under the trees and yeah, just exactly what you want to happen.

I really liked.

How sweet this book.

Was like a boy kissing you in the rain.

Yes, that's it.

Like go under the Willow together.

Yeah, exactly.

It's like it's.

From a book, yeah.

Could you believe?

But no, I would be there.

Me too, me too.

So they start kissing and Hawk says they need to stop or else Poppy will no longer be a maiden.

Yeah.

Does she know what he means by that?

Like when he says yeah.

Yeah, I think so, yeah, because she knows that she has to be a virgin.

But they go to leave and they run into Victor and he's like, OK, I can tell that you guys were just hooking up so.

Like other people will be able to tell also.

Totally.

And he's like, this is so reckless.

So they start.

To argue Well, it is.

That's what I was saying before about like how he's not taking care, like he's just like doing whatever.

Like I do feel like he's being so, so reckless with her, you know what I mean?

And like she doesn't clock it at all.

Like she's like, that seems fine.

Like the we're under the will.

Like she's like, which I guess is fair for an 18 year old.

To be.

Yeah.

And like, I feel like once you start doing things that you get away with unscathed, like going to the Red Pearl and getting that book and stuff like that, that you do more reckless things.

And she has apparently always been this way 'cause like they say at the beginning of the book that she, that she keeps getting things removed from her room.

Like she's like it has like no furniture or anything in her room because like it's punishment for all of the stuff that she does bad, which I find very funny.

Yes, yeah.

Let me take away her armoire 'cause she's a bad girl, like, OK.

So she starts to argue with Victor, and she says, I don't want to ascend.

I hope I'm found unworthy.

And this is, like, again, the kind of the first time that she's really vocalized this.

And they head back to her room.

But when they do that, they hear this big sound and screaming from the Great Hall.

They rush there and they see the cane stuck through the Duke.

Yeah, the Duke has been like, strung up like a, like, he's been like, crucified, basically.

Yeah, the Deus.

And yeah, we recognize the cane from when it was used on Poppy and ridden in blood above his.

Body, it's not a cane.

It's a it's like a cane, like a whipping cane.

Like it's a piece of blood wood from the blood forest.

From the blood forest.

Don't worry, we'll get there.

Written in blood above the Duke's body is the mark of the Dark One.

And then the slogan from blood and ash we will rise.

And a bunch of dissenters are coming into the Great Hall, blowing up the windows.

So they all try to leave, but they kind of lose each other.

And then all of the main characters gather in a room.

They're they're hiding.

The dissenters find them and like are trying to kill them, but Poppy and Victor kill all of them, which the Duchess is like, oh thank God you actually did take these lessons.

Like I'm shocked but glad.

The Duchess is an interesting character because I do feel like that she like is in a bad situation.

She's like, morally Gray, yeah.

But also she's still an ascended vampire murdering children, yes.

Yes.

That's tough to kind of get by.

Yes, yes.

But she does have like totally.

She does have like some.

Yeah, clearly she was being Puppy has this moment as well, like when she talks to her where she's like, oh, so like if I was being abused, like clearly so is she.

And like how did I not notice that?

You know, like if he was abusing somebody like me, like he was clearly abusing his wife, you know, which is no doy.

One of the dissenters kills Victor which is very sad and Lord Mazeen is like being a Dick about it.

So Poppy kills him and then Hawk enters the room and like makes her like black out.

She's like butchering him like, she's like rages like she like goes like yes.

Like Super Saiyan and like starts like hacking away at him and like, yes, he does like some sort of like, I don't know, like hold on her and.

She like trap, pinch the traps or whatever.

Yeah, no, the all connected.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

She passes out and she stays in her room for like a week.

Because she's so devastated about Victor.

Like, that's the real big one.

She really.

And she realizes, yeah.

And she doesn't actually care that she killed Lord Mazine.

She's, like pretty excited about that.

And she doesn't care that the Duke is dead.

And that's like to her, she's also a little bit thrown by that because I do think that's like, oh, I don't care that somebody is dead, like.

Yeah, yeah, because I'm the girl that takes away the pain.

Not Yeah and stuff like that.

But the Duchess informs her there's going to be no punishment for what Poppy did.

But she has to head to the Capitol because the Queen is summoning her and Hawk will take her there.

So we kind of learn about the convoy that's taking Poppy to the capital.

It's Kieran and then Phillips, Eric, Noah, Luddy and Hawk.

They're going by horseback.

And of course this always like, of course she doesn't know how to ride a horse, so she has to ride.

I actually am glad that she doesn't know how to.

I'm glad that she didn't know how to ride a horse because I do feel like in these types of books, it's like she's an amazing rider.

She's like, beautiful, even though she's scarred.

She's the maid and she's virginal.

And so like, there was almost this like, expectation that like, she can, she can do all this stuff.

Like, I'm really glad that she can't ride a horse.

Like that makes sense to me.

She's sheltered.

It would have been crazy if she was like, oh, yeah, and I can ride a horse and I'm really good at that.

And like it's like, OK.

That's a really good point because I think that Jennifer does a really good job of balancing like she is badass and she can be smart when she needs to be and like fight and defend herself when she needs to.

Be but she also like can't do stuff like.

Yes, which like it's so annoying, which I guess is kind of like Pharah's illiteracy, but like it is annoying when it's like the main character like it sometimes it's it's so funny.

Maybe this is sexist of me but it's like when it's the female main character it's like it's annoying but then it's like when it's the guy I'm like that's so hot that he like moves every like.

Of course, of course, but.

Like it makes sense.

It makes sense.

And you have to.

It has to be written well, like with Pharah's, like not being able to read.

I think it was OK.

I think it got crazy when she learned to read in like a day.

Like it was like, OK, cool, like now you know how to read.

It was like totally fine in the first book.

And then all of a sudden it was like, oh, this flaw is now becoming like a bigger plot point than I wanted it to be, but fair.

So like just being able to not ride a horse, like seems pretty chill.

Also seems like something you could easily pick up and like figure it out.

But she likes 6.

It's a little horny.

Like they get to like.

They get to clutch onto each other and he brings along the diary of Miss Willa Collins.

So there's like a flirty sex which was there.

Very funny.

He was like, oh I just brought this book for you if you want to read it to me out loud.

It's very funny.

I like when he teases her.

Yeah, we tell.

But he's kidnapping her at this point.

Like yes, yes and.

Also, he's kidnapping her.

Because up until this point, we were told that she is being brought to the Capitol because the Queen asked her to come back.

So Tony, he's left behind and like, and I guess now it makes sense, like why he didn't want to bring Tony.

He's like, I can't bring Tony because I can't protect her.

When reality he's like, I can't bring Tony because I'm actually kidnapping.

Yeah, because I don't want like innocent collateral.

And before up until, you know, maybe for the right or whatever, maybe he wasn't like so in love with her or so obsessed with her.

And so he was still planning to like, I don't know, maybe like kidnap her in a more brutal way.

But now he's like, I got to figure out a way to get this chick to where I need her without actually harming this.

Like I don't want to say relationship with it we have, but like her like he likes, like he's into her now, you know?

Kieran notices that once they reach the blood forest and he's like, dude, you got to like fucking lock in.

I can see that.

There's like a relationship growing between you 2 and like, you have to remember your purpose, which is to use her as a trading chip or whatever to get his brother back.

Yep.

But yeah, they're, they're on their, their voyage, like to the Capitol, but not actually to the Capitol.

And they spend the night in the blood Forest and it's very cold.

And what do you have to do when it's very cold and there's one time?

This phone had me rolling because after the fact that Kieran was clearly listening to them like.

OK, so Kieran Kay, that's one of my wonder wise.

Are they gonna have like, are they gonna have like a threesome?

Because it seems like I really I really fuck here at.

Home.

I'm so hotter than Hawk.

No, literally Kay.

I really like like actually if people have read this series I will allow you to send me if there is a spoiler like please just.

Say.

That there's a threesome people want.

To know.

Need to know like need to know yesterday when she's bathing at the very end of the book, she like comes in, is clearly like ogling her and is basically and like she's like, wouldn't Cass be mad that you're like doing this?

And he's like, no.

And I was like, oh fuck, that's.

Does he trust me?

It seems like, and we don't know this, I think, but correct me if I'm wrong, that like because Kieran's a Wolven and Wolven have like it seems like they're kind of like the not the pets, but the like the sidekick or like the.

The it's like a familiar, like a one of which has a cat.

Like a familiar yes, yes of the Atlantean.

So like it kind of seems like they have more of a connection than a bonds.

Yes, yes, than like a friend or whatever.

But this scene had dying because like I was like, OK, so this book is not the most like raunchy book.

Like there's not a lot of steamy.

So there's not.

And like she didn't intentionally, I guess like there's it's like well known.

She talks about it.

Jennifer says like I didn't write that.

I originally was just going to write a fantasy book with like, you know, there's like some love in it.

But like, I wasn't writing a romance, but like Hawk and Poppy were flirting so much in my head as I was writing it that like it just kind of poured out and like, so you, I guess that's why like her intention was to make it a romance.

And so there isn't a lot of like sex.

And also she's a maiden.

Like she's there's not like immediately gonna be, I don't know, but the scene was ridiculous.

So they're just in the woods and he's like, she's like, I'm too anxious to sleep.

And I guess when she sleeps and she like normally sleeps, she has nightmares and she cries out and he's like, you can't cry out in your sleep tonight because the Craven will come and they'll murder us all.

So I need you to be like calm and relaxed and sleepy.

And she's like, that's never going to happen.

And he's like, I bet you I can make it happen.

And he basically, like fingers her to sleep.

And I was like, what?

And so like, this is her first sexual encounter basically like in the woods.

No, it would actually make you sleep really calmly in orgasm.

No, I know.

It's like, of course in this world, like there wouldn't be because there would be like a potion or something that she could.

Yeah.

To calm herself.

No, he has to.

No, but there isn't.

She doesn't take it.

Remember, you're right, you're right, you're right, you're right.

That's like her whole thing.

Tony keeps getting her this draft for sleeping and then when Victor dies she does take it for like 7 days and then he's like, you gotta stop.

Yes, but note this.

So like, I guess the way it's set up, she's like he to like back to his stomach and he's just like arm around her and like so they're not even face to face like they're I know, but I think it's like a really wild like first, Like I guess it's not their first encounter because they've kissed before and they've like made out under the Willow and like he's like fondled her or whatever.

But like this is like this is it.

This is her first.

Like somebody's giving touching me in the downstairs, and that's just in the woods and people can see you.

It's just so funny because I love when romance like this just like this doesn't make sense.

Like this straight up does not make sense because also it's like no one would make me anxious about having an orgasm especially my first one because she doesn't even talk about like masturbating or anything which I I find interesting.

Who?

Knows.

Because I guess it's like, what would she do?

What would she do in that book?

But like.

I think there's a difference between also like physical masturbation and then mental and emotional.

Like I think with the book, she's probably reading it and like getting her jollies and like her rocks off that way, but like not like actually.

Touching herself?

No.

What would what?

Would make it worse.

For me, yeah, yeah.

It's like, no, what would never make me feel calm is is this is like, yeah.

And there is this like preconceived and like this is written by a woman.

So like she does understand how like the female body works.

But like I don't think that it is a well known like conception that like orgasming at once makes you so exhausted you fall asleep.

Yeah, I'm kind of actually, I will say that that's kind of one of my grapes and grumbles about the sex in this book is like also very good when they fuck in the snow.

Also it's like they're.

Cool, that made me really uncomfortable.

I did not.

That did not sound fun.

No cuz I was like cold.

But I think The thing is, is I keep thinking Poppy's mortal, but she's technically.

Not I guess she's not.

So she probably doesn't feel it as much as we would.

Have she was also like beat up at that point too, so she was like, oh, the snow felt so good on my cuts.

And I yeah, yeah, I didn't like that, but like, I was just thinking also she I think that they only do like penetrative sex.

And I was like, I don't know, this doesn't seem like and the snow scene, I was like, I don't know if this seems really.

Realistic.

But anyways anyways they hook up it's the next morning and they continue their traveling but they get ambushed by a group of Craven.

Poppy is able to defend herself, but Noah and Eric die.

And then they finally make it to New Haven, and they're greeted by a little boy, Elijah, and his wife, Megda, because the Lord of New Haven is on a hunting trip.

Yeah.

OK.

Yeah.

The the classic.

That one pretty aggressively.

This is like where it's getting like so SUS like so.

Fucking like a little bit like you're like, hmm, OK.

Like weird.

And Poppy's having these realizations that she does again, doesn't want to ascend.

She doesn't want to be the maiden.

She wants to like live her life.

And she says this is actually like so cringe.

But she's like, when I arrive at the Capitol, I'm going to tell the queen that I want to go into exile and I want.

And like, I don't want to ascend.

Yeah, yeah.

And but I think that she is fairly realistic because like, she's like, I don't know what I'm thinking is happening here because like, Hawk is not like, even if I don't ascend, like in what universe does that mean like Hawk and I end up together?

Like I need to make this decision out like separate from Hawk, which I thought was quite mature like, because that is not what's actually happening.

That's fair.

She says in her head, but in her.

In her heart, in her.

Heart.

Yeah, no, she's making this decision purely based off of how much she is obsessed with Hawk.

100%.

She's like, I had a little orgasm in the woods and I, I can't, I can't move forward now.

Relatable, truly.

So that night, Poppy says to Hawk.

Do you want to spend the night together?

And they have sex.

So they're in like an inn.

Yes, because this is this is like the a stop on the way to the Capitol, so.

They're yeah.

So it's like a fairly like it's just a room, you know?

Do you love or hate this about Prince Castile?

Because like, I'm like, this is like pretty fucking crazy.

I guess It's like he can't resist.

I don't think it was chill of him to do this.

Actually, I think it's pretty bad because like at this point, if, if it was how I, you know, before I knew the, the twist, twist where he's the dark one.

And like he's known this full time, like everything about her.

And it's OK because like he's, he's in the same position she's in.

They're on equal playing levels.

They know every, they know all the facts.

Like he knows a little bit more about, in my mind, the dissenters and maybe what's going on there.

But I don't even think it's that.

I think it's like up into this point he clearly likes her and is attracted to her, so he's like he's.

All fun and games.

It's all fun and games and he's doing things that aren't that like crazy, but it's like exactly.

But it's like literally having sex with her when she is the maiden.

So now she is, if she needs to go back, she is spoiled, you know, quote UN quote spoiled.

Obviously, we don't believe that.

But because he knows she's never going back, like he knows he's not taking her back.

And so that makes it worse though, because like she doesn't have all the facts.

Like she thinks that he and her they're on the same playing field and that they're like speaking the same language and that she's saying, no, I love you too.

I don't want to be the maiden anymore.

And he, you know, is like, OK, that's chill.

But like he's actually up here where he's like, you're actually never going to be the maiden anymore anyway.

So, you know, and also I'm kidnapping you.

Like there's there's stuff he hasn't said.

Like this is not cool.

And I think he says at one point he's like, I am a bad person.

Like I like them Like he says that.

And like, I don't know.

I don't believe that he is, though.

Like, you know what I mean?

Like, I don't think so either.

We're supposed to so.

But I don't think this was very cool.

As sexy as it was.

And as much as I enjoyed reading it, I don't think that, like, it should have happened.

Like if the first time that they did it was after she found out, it would be better.

But I guess then we wouldn't have the moment where she feels so betrayed.

Yeah, right.

Which is really good.

It reminds me of Buffy having sex with Angel for the first time.

Then he turns evil.

Very much that.

Which is like a whole commentary on like what it means.

To have to lose your yes, yes, yes.

Also I think in this instance it's better for her to have made that choice.

Like with even if she didn't have all the facts she still did decide that like it wouldn't.

It wasn't going to be like he was going to love her forever and stay with her forever.

She knew that wasn't the case.

She knew that she didn't want to be the maiden, or even if she did, she didn't want to go into that without experiencing this.

So like she had made all of those decisions herself.

True.

True, I just don't think it was on her side like great power like more power to you on his side like no like you should not have done that 100.

Like why not just do more like oral or something?

Yeah.

Just like don't take it so far.

Totally, totally then like make out and take.

It far you know when she knows everything.

Everything like hits the fan.

Hawk has to leave because he has to go like prepare the way or something, is what he.

Tells her yeah and Phillip Phillips is like 1.

Of the ones that isn't in Hawk's crew because basically they they left with a a group of.

People, yeah, half of them are set up like they.

Are Hawk's people so he can successfully kidnap her and then some of them are like from the castle so there's no suspicions that it's all these new people and so he's like, I think something SUS is going on because he had never heard of a Hawk or Kieran all of a sudden they're all here they're all here and then.

He's like also.

The Duke on the hunting trip or what?

Or the Lord or whatever on the hunting trip.

Like that's just like not a thing.

So he's like, let's like go.

They run into Kieran, he transforms into a woven at this point.

It's so sad puppies like no, we still like need to find Hawk.

Like like help, help.

Like Kieran's Kieran's a wolven and and then Kieran goes to Hawk and she's like Oh my God.

Like you knew he was a wolven, but then he also kills.

Phillips, like he kills Phillips.

So she's like, oh, that's my like, truly.

Last Ally and then in the crowd at this village is.

Missing hand man Jericho and she's like Oh my God, like it all.

Just like the floor drops.

The floor drops because that's the guy that killed.

Rylan so she's like OK, all of this has been set up and so sad She like they start fighting and she gets stabbed in the abdomen which is like yeah, really crazy she starts fighting hawk she realizes that Hawk is an Atlantean yeah well, first she thinks Hawks a wolven because but.

Then she's like, wait, that doesn't make any sense.

And then she's like, oh, OK, then you must be an Atlantean, which are like the worst of the worst, and you're going to give me to the Dark 1.

So it's still at this point, she doesn't realize he's the dark One.

I know she still hasn't been to a girl.

It's so embarrassing, but she gets.

Trapped.

So she gets captured by Delano and he takes her to like a jail cell and Hawk goes down and stitches up her wound and she's fucking pissed.

She's like, I don't she should touch me.

I don't want he's like, he's like, do you want me on my knees?

Like to what a betrayal thing.

I don't like the way he plays this to be.

Honest, I feel like he should be apologetic because the jig is up.

Like you.

Yeah, you're right.

It's like at this point, like he, he is kind of like talky about it.

Talky.

About it and like you just like really betrayed her.

Trust in a way that like you knew you were doing in the moment and so now that there's really nothing to hide, like you should just be like, you know, I'm like, I'm a little sorry, just like a teeny bit sorry, you know what I mean?

Like 100%.

But I still think he thinks that she has so.

Much to learn and like.

That's a little bit another like not so fun thing for me is when there's like a they'd have to teach the girl something like they have to educate her because she's like the uneducated one.

Like I don't love that.

Like when?

Yeah, in Akatar, when Reese has to teach Pharaoh to read.

Like, I don't, I don't love it.

I'm just like, she can do it herself.

What?

What bugs me about that is because in hetero.

Relationships.

The guy inherently has so much power, yes, And so he abuses his power a little bit.

Yes, yes, in a way that is just like.

This just gives it the.

This just shifts the power dynamics.

Way too far in his favor.

And then he.

Doesn't even let he doesn't let up at all like.

When she is like feeling like he, he supposedly like is falling in love.

With her like, I just don't.

Buy that.

But yeah, maybe he's playing it cool.

But he tells her he spills the beans.

Yes, he's like everything you know.

Is a lie.

The ascended are or like we're vampires and they need are vampires and they need to feed off mortals, which is why they take the third and fourth children and this is how they they feed until they're not dead so that they can make them into.

Craven, which is crazy, which is but which is crazy.

I think that they killed the children though.

Like I think the children are straight up murdered.

Like they're fed on and murdered.

And then because the Craven are adults, like they.

Can't have like kid.

Craven running around or that would be very clear.

Something was up.

Yes, they must just be like killing adults and turning them into I don't know know what.

It's probably heat they feed.

On them until they're adults, you're right, you're right, you're right, you're right, and then they become.

Craven Wow, that's terrible.

That's actually like, it's actually like it's worse.

Sided when you.

That's worse, actually.

Because I was.

Imagining them just like.

I mean, which is really awful, like just like murdering kids, like yeah, tossing them.

But I guess it's even worse if.

They're kept as like.

Slaves like, that's what I think it is.

That's because he talks about.

How?

Again, very recent coded but he was a blood slave because they require Atlantean blood to.

Make the transition to a ascended, which is like it's, you know, the traditional vampire story.

They drink your blood, you drink their blood, and then you become a vampire.

And this one, it's they drain like your blood is drained, but then you have to feed on Atlantean blood to become an ascended.

Like an ascended can't make another ascended.

Exactly.

They need an Atlantean.

So he was like basically like cattle for five years, which is like dark for sure.

And he still fucking lies to her, he says.

The Dark One plans to, like we said, use her as leverage to free the Dark One's brother, who is Prince Malik.

And so he's like, we have to go to the king and queen of Atlantia and you can come out of the.

Jail.

You can sleep in my bedroom basically.

What a rake?

What?

A rake what?

An absolute rake.

So.

She does end up getting escorted back.

Yeah, to like better quarters.

Well, so like, there are the Atlanteans.

So.

Niall.

And Delano are like Atlantean Bros, right?

Like, they're like, they're part of the crew.

And so they go to bring her back to the castle to, like, a room because, like, there she's made-up with Hawk a little bit.

And then this is when all of the dissenters are like, why are we keeping this chick?

Yeah.

They want to make a statement.

Yes, because she even though they aren't.

They're mad at what she represents.

They're not mad at her person.

Yeah, and they don't care about this rescuing Balik thing like they think.

He's a lost cause.

So they're like, why would we waste our opportunity to like make a statement here when we have the maiden, like let's murder the maiden.

Like, let's let's get her out.

And like Mr.

Tulis is all up in all.

These are all the mortals like, like the dissenters who are not.

Part of this like.

Hawk crew.

OK.

So yes, OK, Niall.

Niall is the Atlantean, Delano is a Wolf is a Wolven.

I think that this is one thing that like I've.

Read this book.

Twice.

A little confusing.

Yeah.

The crew, I think.

They could have done they.

Introduced them so loud and This is why maybe we need more.

We need to read further on, like we need to have a little bit more.

They're just so random at the end at in the convoy.

Like, I kind of do wish that they had some more scenes in the big.

It all happened so fast, like the fast SO.

Yeah.

And it's just like a random group of men.

So like, yeah.

Pardon us if we misspoke with that, but so sorry the dissenters are mortal.

And then there's the other.

Ones who are.

Like taking care of Poppy and trying to like keep her safe but are a mix of Atlanteans and Wildens.

Who are there like really like drop by this guy?

Jericho with his one armed dude who hates her.

He's like murder this bitch.

Basically.

Delano changes into a woven.

They start.

Fighting Poppy gets stabbed by Mr.

to list like really badly again.

Basically, she gets pinned up, very Lord Mazin of situation, and Jericho is, like, planning on butchering her, and he's yelling out to the crowd.

What part?

Yeah, this was dark.

This is really dark.

But also, it's so classic.

Like, villain has to have a moment of banter where the good guys can cut, like, have a minute to like, like, where you tell the story about what you're gonna do.

But yeah.

He's like, he's like, oh, who wants her?

Like vagina basically is what he says at one point.

Like he says like some sort of like sexual, like private area and like, that's that part was like real rough to read.

Like, this sucks, but Poppy's just like this is it Like I'm gonna die?

Yes.

Yes.

And Delano attacks him.

And Kieran arrives and is like fuck go get the Prince.

At this point, we're like the Prince.

Go get.

The Prince, like he's here, like it's Hawk.

This is when we realize it, when we realize that Hawk is actually.

Prince Castile so hawk they take.

Her back to the castle cuz she.

Is dying and Hawk tries to save poppy yeah cuz by the way like Atlantean blood heals he.

Gets Poppy to drink his blood so she can heal.

And she finally, like, wakes up from being unconscious and she's like, just wait a second.

Just wait one millisecond.

Kieran, you referred to Hawk as the Prince, as Castile as Castile.

As as the Prince of Nadir, Never.

Run a Prince nadir.

Can we talk about that for like 2 seconds?

Yeah.

And Poppy, this is crazy, actually leaves and like she's left alone with Hawk and Hawks like.

Like sorry about it.

Like sorry, like it is what it?

Is like I'm I I need.

To save my brother like that's why I took you.

And like she comes to the realization that like it was and like this is bonkers.

Like she's sick out of the blue, stabs him in the heart.

Like which we think at this point he's gonna.

Die because we don't know that Atlanteans can't be killed by stabbing them in the heart.

And so she is so upset and she just runs away into the forest, which I was like, what's your game plan here, girly?

But she's so upset.

But Cass, of course, because he is quick, Yeah, he finds her.

I don't think she had a game plan.

I think like she.

Stabbed him out of pure like adrenaline like it was not thought through at all like it was like and that's why she's crying and she's like freaking out cuz she's like realize what she's done, but great he's not dead.

Thank thank God do it.

They do it in the.

Snow He catches up to her and he's.

Like.

Everything I told you was real or whatever.

And then bites her.

Well, because that's what she says.

Like she, she's like, was any of it?

Real like, were you just trying to like, before any of this, like, crazy stuff happened?

She's like, were you just trying to like, get get like into my pants so that you could, like, kidnap me?

Like when he bites her, it's like pleasurable.

Yes, which is like a very vampire trope.

It's very romance vampire again, love.

Love, love.

But it's like it's a sting of pain, but then it's like they're into it.

They're into it.

And he's like, I'm taking you home.

And she's like, huh.

And she's like, I don't want to go back there.

And he's like no no to my home.

Dummy, so they head back.

To where they're staying, just put a pin in it.

They're like, we're going to have dinner with all these people's.

This is like the part where they, like, are like, there's murdered people on the wall, but they're eating dinner.

Yeah, this is crazy.

So she takes that bath where Kieran is like.

Looking at her, well, she like, I don't think she he's nested, so he looks at her but like.

She falls asleep in the bathtub, yes yes, and so he's worried that she's dead and so I don't know that he's like ogling her per SE, but he's not looking away, which also could just be like a show of like she's.

Not that she's prude, like, prude per SE, but like, yeah, she's like, scandalized.

Yeah.

Like, by somebody looking at her.

She's just like, a nude girl.

He's like, I thought you were dead, chica.

Like, yeah, like.

Don't go crazy, but I'm again still hoping that it's a sexual thing.

I don't think it's.

Out of the question, I don't think it's a big wonder.

Why but?

She gets all cleaned up and then Cass is like, we have to go have dinner because basically I'm taking you to Atlantia and everyone fucking hates you because you are part of.

So you need to like, chin up.

Yeah, like you're part of the.

World, that is.

Evil to them so you have to be seen with me so I can protect you right, because if she if he's protecting her if she's.

Seen with him like, although this didn't really work last time, but he's hoping now that like if he makes it clear like even in a more explicit way, that people will leave them alone and like not attack her like they just did.

And he does this by taking all of the dissenters that attacked her and murdering them and nailing them to the wall.

Kind of hot, though.

Kind of hot like.

Toxic but hot.

I wasn't against it.

I was like, yes, you show her.

But then we get the hugest reveal, probably, well, like.

Not the hugest, the cast thing is fucking crazy but yeah it's just we either run after that point, yes we end off on a huge cliffhanger.

Poppy is half Atlantean and cast could tell when he sucked her blood.

Yeah.

It's just like, OK, what does it taste like?

Yeah, yeah.

What's the nuance there that made you?

Realize I'm curious.

Literally.

Literally.

And that's why they have to.

Return to Atlantia to talk to the king because they have to get married.

OK, but like my thought process.

At this point was like, yes, I knew it was going there.

That like that's what his intention was.

Whenever that's the plan, they're gonna go get married and we'll see.

And we'll see in Book 2, OK?

Let's finish off with our round table discussion.

This is our Internet investigation, our cursory proves of the Internet of Things you need to know.

I cannot wait to talk to you about this because it blends two of our guests, which is reality TV shows and romance novels.

Jennifer L Armantrout is working on a reality TV show as like a writer for it as a writer, and it's called.

Just funny reality TV.

Maybe yes, but they have to have like it is.

In that.

Sense it's the it's like traitors kind of.

Yes, the mechanics are scripted, but the yeah, once the players are in the game, I guess it's not scripted, but basically it is called the key and it mixes a challenge competition with romance that's set in a world of fantasy storytelling.

It's so weird.

I was looking it up and I was just like, I don't know.

How this will go, like, I know they're trying to, they're trying to cash in on their romance book.

Talk clear and like for sure do it.

Give it a go.

And and kind of the traitors of it all, yeah.

I just think that there is an aspect to this.

World that is like not realistic and not reality.

And so when you put people in it that it is reality and it is I don't know.

I just don't know that it'll be bad.

My like, they don't have like, like the people wouldn't have like.

Powers No, right.

It's just like, it's like Renaissance Fair.

Yeah, exactly.

Exactly.

It's been I.

Don't know that it hasn't like been done before.

And maybe it's been done a little bit, but I'm glad that she's doing that.

That's exciting for her.

I'm sure that my husband will cover it for his job covering reality television for Parade magazine.

I was just going to say parade.com.

Rob has a podcast.

Plug but a lot of random shows that I've literally never heard of so.

I'm sure this will be on the list.

We covered one that I was like what the hell is this about?

But I kind of like that when it's like so.

When it's so random and then I, I do feel like that this is going to be one of those shows, but so it says.

The format sees 15 contestants inhabit a village where they'll live and compete in it in immersive themed challenges for priceless keys.

The keys are used to buy luxuries, woo potential romantic partners, and build alliances, all in a bid to unlock a life changing fortune.

It's not romance at all though.

You know, it's like, I think they're thank you.

It's more like DND.

Like it's like DND, yeah.

More feels like a board game.

Come to life.

Versus now that we've talked a little bit about her background like she's not.

Romance, like she's more fantasy and so maybe she just has like that interest.

I wonder who tapped her for this, though.

Like, that's a really good point.

I know, I know.

Well, this book's been.

Extremely successful.

So maybe that's true.

That is true.

So I wonder if she has an interest because it's.

Like, it's not like.

Or anything is gonna do that.

No.

And it's like gamification.

And it does kind of seem like that is.

A bit of her vibe is like this idea of like the truth coming out, like, like where's the twist?

Where's the M Night Shyamalan twist?

Yeah, that's fair.

I just.

I really see this as.

Like a board game?

Cuz it's like, yeah, they do challenges and then they get keys.

It seems like those are cards that have like action items basically.

Yeah.

Oh my gosh.

Well, I can't wait to see it.

I'm curious.

I'll definitely watch like just to like show sport, but me too.

Unfortunately, my life is inundated.

With reality.

Television sometimes and I just like can't take on I just I don't watch any reality television besides the bachelor anymore because I like cannot deal with how much my husband watches.

That's fair.

And also this again.

I think the the beautiful thing about things like Survivor and Big Brother and The Bachelor and stuff like that is there's people to talk about it with.

Yes, if the show comes out, it's only you and I.

Watching so I think.

Correct.

So it's like 45 year old like stay at home.

Moms like, you know, like people who are just like they don't have anything to watch.

But no, I do think it'll be fun.

I I'm curious as how like what it actually will be though, if it'll be just like a genre type thing like the traders or whatever, which I like.

So I could, Yeah.

Well, they need to have a good host.

Though totally.

But I could see a lot of, not just.

Like romanticy people clocking in, but like, yes, like Dungeons and Dragons people and stuff like that for sure.

I mean, that's a huge, huge industry, so that makes sense.

Huge.

Yeah, definitely.

OK.

I wonder why these are unanswered questions for the listeners.

What are your wonder wise?

Well, you know I.

Want to know what's up with Kieran?

Like you want to know what's up with them?

No, I.

Actually am I'm down with that.

I think that there is a lot of unanswered questions about this hawk as Castillo like because we really only find him to be that character like within the last like 3 chapters.

And so now it's like he has this whole life that he told us about his brother that like we were assuming was one thing and and now we need to find out.

It's another thing.

I also like really need to know what happened to Ian.

Like her bro.

Yes because the whole book she describes him as like a.

Soft, gentle guy.

I have a feeling he's a bad guy now though.

I think so.

I think all signs are pointing that he's a bad guy.

I at first was like, oh, is he dead?

Like, was he ever?

Ascended like was he, you know, but it seems like he has been writing to her and his writing has become very like, stern and like not as like flowery and not as nice.

And she's like, does he even like his wife?

Like, are they even happy?

Like, I don't know anything about him.

And so, yeah, I think he's going to be a bad guy, unfortunately.

But I do kind of want to like see that happen.

Like I want to know me too.

Also need.

The PUP populist to be.

Aware that they should not be giving their children to the Ascension.

Yeah, of course I knew.

That's a stop soon.

Of course, I think the other.

Thing that.

I'm curious about is like, I do think part of Hawk slash Cass's charm was he was like, yeah, this roguish guard.

Yeah.

So Prince.

Yeah, now that he's a Prince, I'm kind.

Of curious like.

He's a Prince, but he's a Prince of like a he's not.

Yeah, he's not that type of Prince, but.

Like I just like a land that is not like.

Acknowledged.

So he's kind of like a warrior Prince.

Like you're right, he's not like a monarchy like Rich.

Like there's no.

Sitting on a throne.

Because, like, it's all sort of crisis.

Management fight or flight vibes for the Atlanteans?

Still, that's a good point.

So maybe that's not so I.

Mean I just hope that he there's no more.

Like surprises from them because like, I do feel like that's going to be unbelievable for me if they continue to have a sexual romantic relationship And he throws another like, oh, by the way, like I was hiding this from you.

Like, which is what I think Sarah J Maas does.

Really well with recent and favor yeah and I think that Rebecca Yarrows does this really poorly yes with Zaden Violet God another thing that like yeah I mean I.

Texted you.

I was like, I'm so over him being abandoned.

Like yeah, over it.

Like that was the whole book.

I was furious when the book did not resolve with him not being a venom if the fact that he is still abandoned is making me livid, but a separate combo.

So I hope that that doesn't happen.

I think that that's something that I'm wondering like how that will proceed.

Like he says they're going to get married.

But like, I often find like I need a little bit more before that happens.

I know, me too.

I also hate like kind.

Of like an instant marriage thing just because it's like, yeah, that's what I was saying.

Like I need a little more.

It's just like, not realistic.

Like I need a little more, will they?

Won't they?

Honestly?

Because.

She is deciding to marry him, Boris.

Noor and also like.

Her.

Deciding to marry him at this point is suspicious.

Intelligence wise, like yes, it's cool that you got your rocks off in the woods.

It's cool that you guys like.

That's that's chill.

But like, I don't think you're like can say that you're like in love with this guy.

You barely know him.

Yeah, You know, I think she would because she's 19 and she doesn't.

Know what the fuck?

She's doing but yeah, but it's, it's start.

It's it gets old real quick.

Gets old real quick.

I don't want them to be like a boring married couple.

Agreed.

OK, our grapes and grumbles.

These are nitpicky.

Problems we have with the book I you you talked about this.

I think it was actually before we started recording, recording, but you're like nothing really happens.

Yes, it is like a very slow roll and I.

Think also.

So yeah, nothing really happens.

It's a very long book for a lot to happen in the last couple chapters or a lot of reveals to happen.

It's a lot of, and it's not even a lot of world building, Like the world is built fairly quickly.

You understand, like who she is, where she exists, like who the main characters are very quickly.

It's just a lot of her thinking and her pondering and her questioning and and I think that's appropriate.

But I do think that there is it drags a little bit.

And so that's something that I I do have a bit of a gripe with, like honestly, like shave it down a little bit the middle.

Yeah, because even the Ryland death, I was like if you.

Added in the Victor death.

We didn't need the Ryland stuff.

Yes, yeah, exactly.

Like, it could have just been the seven days after Victor dies, too.

Really.

Could have been speed up like it reminds me of Twilight with the chapters that are just the yeah like September, October, November, December, January.

Exactly.

Yeah, I completely agree that like, it does kind of feel like a little draggy and then it's like all of a sudden.

I also don't think Victor needed to die.

Like, I don't think he needed to.

Die for that yeah cuz she now she's fully.

Alone, that's another thing.

I mean, she has Hawk and now she's like, she's like that girl that like is.

Is obsessed with her husband and only has her husband as.

She's like 18 and obsessed with this like guy who we don't how?

How old is she?

I was like that too.

Yeah.

They like describe him as like a few years.

Older I think but like seems suss he he reads as like a mid 20s.

Character totally, but I just hate when they cut off all of.

I guess she could possibly have Tony in the future, but I just hate when they cut off we're all of yeah, the the the main characters like they built friends Tawny's character a lot so.

The fact that tawny too much, Almost too much.

Yeah, another gripe and crumble, I guess.

I did like.

However, though, and we didn't really talk about them like the other maidens or the other like maids and and ascended who lived in the castle, like Lauren and or like going to be ascended.

So like Tony and Lauren and like all these other girls who like brutally die in that thing.

You know, I think that that was like another thing, like a lot of world building in a in a way that for things that ultimately didn't matter because in the last three chapters we like flip the script so much.

That's OK.

I mean, it did read quickly.

Like it wasn't like it didn't drag as much as other books of that length have dragged for me 100%.

But it's like didn't need to be 6.

122 pages and I think Nah.

Shave it down.

Teen hours of audiobook.

No, Yeah, shave that down.

No, just cut a little bit.

Edit.

Yourself like it would have been a tight 400 pages.

Would have been, I still rated this book 5 out of five stars, by the way, But like, I would have No, I think there were.

These are gripes and crumbles though.

Yes, you know.

Picky problems, not hates exactly.

We already talked about the ACOTAR.

Similarities.

Yeah.

The last like extremely nitpicky thing is I fucking hate when they describe any of yes, I'm with you, I'm 100% with you.

The taste of the main character I.

Hate that so much I hate it.

Honeydew.

Zayden does this a lot in.

In fourth wing.

And in all three of them, like he always says, like your taste is everything, like I hate it.

I don't.

It's not even that I I.

Don't mind A1 off comment of like you taste so good or whatever, something like that.

My problem is is when they describe it as something that's crazy.

Yeah, like honeydew.

Like honeydew or like fruit?

Or whatever.

Yeah, like, oh, you're so sweet.

Like, oh.

Women have such.

Insecurities about yes, about like I feel like when people go down on them, they're just like, do I taste it?

Like it's just, it's not even.

I just don't.

I don't think it's a sexual.

I've never found it very like, and this maybe, maybe this is a generational thing because we were like raised by like boomers who didn't talk about anything and didn't let us have like any sort of sexuality.

And so we like were like trying to like, like actually though, like we're all like, I mean, like, I'm like a total prude, like, you know, like, I'm sorry, but.

Like growing up it was like, no, that sounds.

Disgusting.

Like that sounds weird and gross and terrible.

So when you read it in a book like this, it's hard to get rid of that preconceived notion.

So 100%.

But yeah, see, Honeydew is very strange.

First of all, Honeydew does not taste like anything.

Honeydew is sick of the world's most bland melon, the blandest melon.

It's so fucking random.

It's not even that for me, though, It's it's the fact that it's like ex expectation is that women.

Yeah, should taste.

Yeah, there should be a taste or something and that you're.

Doing it for your pleasure, but it's like they never say that about the guy's cum.

Or their Dick.

Sorry for being in the world.

No, the idea is not that it tastes good or.

It's like a like something you're, I mean, maybe you do enjoy, but you're not enjoying the physical aspect of it.

You're enjoying giving somebody else pleasure and so like to make it about you and like what it tastes like.

I guess it's like the yeah, maybe that's the the expectation is that you should have a vagina that tastes like honeydew.

Like, no, like that's not real in the medieval times in the woods.

I don't think, though, girl hasn't taken a bath.

Yeah, she's just so perfect that yeah, her commentates like.

Honeydale But it's like whenever they describe a girl giving a guy a blowjob in in books, they're like, it was salty and like not musty but kind of like literally gagged.

No, literally like I'm gagging.

But it's like.

So the guy just gets to have his normal, not like his normal muscle.

Yeah, like physical, bodily functionality.

Yes, but we have to have of course this like soft.

And sweet smelling vagina.

But then it's also like, yeah, it's like.

And then I just.

Think that it makes people feel insecure and then they go grab a bottle of Summers Eve or whatever and then fucking stick that up their vagina, you know, and then get beef like and there's so many products out there about.

Like the spell and like now there's this huge like like I get a lot of ads right now, like for vaginal bacter, whatever back.

I don't know, it's like the the it's VB where you have like, yeah.

And it's like a real thing and like, yeah, not like not ads, but like PSA's or like like this is a real thing.

Like now we're talking about it and it's like, yeah, I'm really glad that that's the thing because that's normal.

Like most like that's a thing, you know, so.

Anyway.

I get it.

I also think honeydew is a bonkers fruit to choose.

Like that's our melon.

Like that doesn't taste like anything.

And also like where?

Where would he have ever tasted a honeydew in this like time period?

Or that also makes sense to me that it was just so weird.

Also, it was weird.

There was one word that he said.

Maybe it's Jennifer's favorite fruit.

Fruit, you know.

Maybe her cum tastes like honeydew, but let us know.

Jennifer But the other like thing I just I use sip of water when you said that it goes through, let us know, let us know.

I think the other like.

One thing that took me out is there was a time that Hawk Sash Kass used a word that didn't sound like medieval or whatever.

Like it didn't.

It happened a lot, actually.

Yeah, it happened something like that.

There was a, now that you're saying it, I, I.

Meant to like clock that and like write it down what it was, but it wasn't even like a swear word or anything like that.

He he said like, are you serious or like, you know, it's like the way you say yeah, like, like almost like for real like, yeah, yeah.

It was something that I just wasn't in the.

The language was a little modern, yeah, the and I, I.

Think that's because it's not set in a time period, it's not set in a specific world of ours like so it's actually it's fine and it's appropriate because it's her world.

But the vibes that you get from the start are that this is like a medieval times type of place.

So yeah, it's kind of like how in Bridgerton, like.

There was the time that I think it was like Anthony said, like what am I chopped liver or whatever?

And it was right.

It just, it takes you out for like 10 seconds and then you're like, OK, going back in.

But yeah, confused.

So, yeah, no, that's fair.

OK.

And this is a new segment for you since you've been on, this is a new.

Segment for me, yeah, but this is our side character.

Spotlight, this is our nomination.

For an unforgettable supporting character who deserves their due.

Because sometimes the best characters aren't the main event.

I feel like you're gonna nom Tawny.

Yeah.

So I'm torn because I do think Tawny.

Is a really good well written side character.

Is she my favorite side character?

No, she's kind of boring.

I and I know that like the problem is it's so aggressively in Poppy's POV that it is really hard to find a side character here.

So I think Tawny, yes, I also think there's a spot in there for Victor.

And then I think that there's probably, I mean, there's a Kieran spot, but it's it comes on hard in the end, you know, like love that.

Yeah.

I do think that he's like, if he'll be it in the next books for sure.

Totally.

So yeah, I mean, I would probably know I'm Tawny just because I I like liked her vibe the most and like, I feel like she was well written between her and Victor probably for me.

Yeah, I liked her too.

And.

I'm hoping that she pops up in further Yeah cuz she wrote her so fleshed.

Out that it would be kind of a bummer if we never heard or saw her again totally and maybe she ends up with one of.

Cass's like Malik or Kieran and Tommy or something like that.

I'm also getting like gay vibes from Kieran.

A little bit though.

OK nice.

So I don't know bye bye vibes.

I could see that I I think.

Like Victor also like I just I love the like stand in dad character.

Yes, me too.

He was great and like, but again like I.

Do feel like he didn't need to die.

He did not truly didn't like.

I wish what happened was that.

He got maybe what she thinks is mortally injured and then she has to leave because she's getting.

And then he's alive.

And then he's alive, yeah, but no like he was.

Pired like he's.

Gone.

He's gone.

OK, finally, our sequel scoop.

This is the T.

On any upcoming sequel seasons and the general reception, the next book in the series is A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire.

When did that come out like when did like?

Where are we in the timeline here?

Like, how many books are are are we in?

At this point?

We're five books in, plus an entire.

Prequel series and book 6 comes out in June.

So like we're in April, we gotta hurry up.

Two months we've got we've got four books.

We got a pass.

She.

Wrote two books in.

One year like she wrote.

This is what I'm nervous about is like, like.

Is it going to be good?

Exactly, bitch.

Published like 10 books.

In five years I don't Well, she also so a soul of ash and blood from 20.

23 is a retelling of book 1, so it's Castile's POV.

So it's really 1234 and 5 but like even though it is isn't a new story, it's still.

Well, and then there's the prequel series.

Yeah.

Yeah, which is just, I think like, it's not really connected.

So I think that's OK.

Like you don't need to read those like right away.

Like they're not totally.

They're about like the gods and stuff.

But all right, well, I gotta get on.

I went to Barnes and Noble over the weekend, but guess what?

They didn't have the second one in stock, which I thought was insane.

They also did not have the new Hunger Games book.

And I was like, I went, I was like, both books that I'm asking to get in physical form from a bookshop you don't have.

That's crazy.

It's like, what?

Am I crazy here?

I think.

They're so popular.

They are so.

Popular There's a there's a like a local bookshop I like to go.

To that they'll like order for me and like I like to do that cuz it's like support local book shops.

But I was there the other day cuz it was raining and you know, I needed to take my 5 year old somewhere.

Bookshop it is.

No, that's bookshop it is.

So yeah, we got to get on it.

I guess we got to.

Get on it.

We got to pick it up, which I'm actually like, really?

Excited to me too.

I'm into these whereas I do feel like I was.

I had a lot.

We were just talking about Fourth Wing and Onyx Storm and like, I had a lot of trouble reading Onyx Storm.

At the end of the day, I did like it.

I felt like it was good.

A month.

I think I've read SO.

Long between like while reading.

It.

And then it made me feel like I was like, am I not a good reader anymore?

Like.

Do I not read fast anymore?

Like, how am I gonna?

And then I was coming up on this pod and I was like, am I not gonna be able to read this book in time?

And then no, we were good.

We were chill 'cause it was.

I was thinking I was like, am I gonna meet my Goodreads?

Reading goal this year Reading channel Yeah, because of Onyx Firm really threw you for a loop.

Literally.

I'm not even joking.

I also wanna.

Say up top that I'm like 99.9% sure that I've read a Kingdom of Flesh and Fire.

But yes, you said this before you were like you're you because it came out around the.

Same time.

So you were like, yes, I, I think I read it, but like you guys, you.

Know sometimes 2020 was a while ago too.

It was a while ago and.

Like when I was deep deep deep in my.

Reading, like when I was reading like 5 books a week, I was reading them so fast that I don't I was skipping over a lot of stuff.

Yeah.

Or I might have started it and not.

Finished it, which doesn't bode well because I I, I don't know if this came through, but I loved this book like I really really like this book so I'm like I did too so I like maybe a 2nd 2020 was a tough year.

Let's give you that I'll.

Give you the the benefit of the doubt there.

I will also say when it's like when you get these books like 1 after another, like you are so feral for it that you do kind of like rush through it.

Yeah.

And like I, I think we also I can guess that we read similarly that we're like going to just like gloss over sections and just kind of like skim read that.

And I think that that's what my husband's always like you read so fast.

I'm like, do I or I know or skip things?

Yes, which is why we were saying that.

I love doing rereads for this podcast because I actually ended up enjoying the books way more than I did on the first time.

I just bought it by the way.

I just.

I was like, well, I'm just gonna do it.

It's 8.

99 it's like on sale.

Nice, nice.

I wanted to get it actually.

That'll be a Kindle 1 I don't have.

The first one anyway, so it's not gonna complete like a collection.

Yes, yes.

And this would be if I really like it, then I'll go back.

And I'll buy them in physical.

Form.

But yeah, I the convenience of the Kindle is like more important sometimes.

Absolutely.

OK.

Like we said in.

December 2024, it was picked up by Sony Pictures for TV series, which I'm very excited for because it was it's the same production company that did Outlander and they did a really good job.

They did do a good job.

It's one of my favorite like book to.

Television series, if not truly my favorite, Yeah.

And I think like it's, it's one of the ones that like.

You know, one of my favorite book series is the Mortal Instrument series.

Like I was very obsessed with them and like still am like can reread those books like time and time again.

But they did a terrible movie of it.

And then they did a television series, which was OK for the first like season.

And then it just like took it to like a teeny bopper place because it was on.

It was on What's the channel?

What's the teen channel?

Yeah, Freeform.

It was a freeform show, ABC Freeform.

So.

So it was like.

You know, I, I understood why.

They did a lot of the things they did because it was targeting a much younger audience and like a like they wanted to just like, you know, get on with it in some ways.

But no, I, I Outlander, I think is probably the best television series for a book.

Totally.

And I think they'll take the care.

And time and money to do this series, while money is very Sony's like a good one cuz they they got the.

Funds totally even though my.

I'm not holding my breath because so many of these things get picked up and no that's true cuz we were just like the acatar is like gone.

Forever, I think like, I don't think that's happening.

Probably.

I mean, we'll see, but.

I think that's a.

Tough one to make at this point.

That one's a tough.

One where it's like this one's the universe is.

Yeah.

And like just that one is.

So fantasy with like.

Wings and Magic, where it's like this really actually isn't just need teeth and you don't even need that until the end.

Yeah.

And then like her power is like putting.

Her it's like Reiki basically, so it's like sheer powers Reiki, but actually.

Like but actually.

So it's like.

That's.

Not hard.

OK, That's all from us.

Thank you so much for coming on.

Oh, gosh.

Thank you.

Yeah, I know.

It was really fun to like read something and like.

Be able to actually talk to somebody about it.

Like literally nobody in my I mean sometimes in my friends circle I have people that read romance but like more often than not they're reading like high fantasy or self help books and I'm just like I really don't want anything to do with the reality in my reading.

Like I do not care to help myself through a book at this point in my life.

Agreed.

Agreed.

100% then they're done that.

So yeah, it's really nice to have somebody to chat too about.

The chaotic romance books that we're reading, always a pleasure.

Agreed.

Can you tell the listeners where they can find?

You and anything else you want to plug?

Yeah, so I'm on Instagram.

I have a few Instagrams I have.

My main one which is Angela Bloom with three OS and then books with Bloom also with three OS Get her to post more book content.

You need to post more books.

I do need to post more book content but thank.

You, you know, this has been really fun, Super fun.

I'm so glad we chose this book.

Me.

Too good one.

Really good one.

Really good one.

OK.

Thanks for coming on.

Thank you.

Talk soon.

And that's the story of From Blood and Ash.

Thank you so much.

For listening and thank you to Angela for joining me on today's show.

If you haven't already, follow us on socials.

I post so much fan art and book talk news and all of that stuff on Instagram at Ready to be Bromanced.

And if you've been enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave us a rating and review.

It helps us know that we are on track.

You can also suggest a book in that review or leave a voicemail or.

Fill out our.

Form via the links in that episode.

Show notes Our next episode is the deal.

Until then, happy reading for Ready to be Romanced.

I'm Tori.

Goodbye.