Books most popular in the United States●Paranormal

Release date: 2022-09-14 $0.99

Comments

1. An enjoyable sci-fi romance. - I enjoyed this sci-fi omegaverse romance. There was plenty of action and danger. The spicy scenes were spicy. The world building was competent and the hero was super growly, which was fun. I recommend this one as a good mental break. I received a free copy of this book, and am voluntarily leaving a review.
2022-10-09

Release date: 2012-08-07 $14.99

Comments

1. I Fell in Love with Reading Again - While I enjoyed this book, I understand many found it a slow read. But I’m begging you, do NOT give up on this series. Push on until the third book, you will not regret it. This is the greatest series I have ever read. Keep in mind while you’re reading this that Maas first wrote this an an amateur. I believe she wrote the first version of this when she was a teen and later rewrote it. You will see her style grow and develop in time. My favorite parts of this novel involved the creepy library scenes. I’m a sucker for a good spooky tale and I was thoroughly creeped out. When it comes to writing a compelling plot, strong female characters, and trauma, Maas is simply unmatched. She made me fall in love with reading again.
2023-03-22

2. Add this to your To-Read List asap! - Some of the best writing I’ve read. Nothing in the story felt like fluff or useless to read. I liked how easy the author made the world feel while reading about it. Also making likable characters such as Choal and Celenea. The story’s fight/action scenes were fun to read. Everyone’s backstories were explained well and the villain was executed well too. Can’t wait to read the next book.
2022-12-31

3. You gotta push through!! - Coming back after I finished the series to review this. Y’all, this book was a bit of a drag but you HAVE to hold on! The second book gets a bit better, more action, and then the third and fourth completely blow it out of the water. The fifth book brought me to tears. If you’re a fan of Sarah J. Maas definitely hang in there, this series is worth it.
2022-07-26

4. A little disappointed - This book was a decent read, but the plot and characters were underdeveloped. The protagonist is full of contradictions and feels like an empty shell plagued with the classic YA fantasy tropes (beautiful, dark past, dead parents, more talented than everyone around her). Just felt a bit cheap. Won’t be reading the rest of the series probably.
2022-03-13

5. It’s ok - I guess I am a bit stingier with my star ratings than others, but I oh well. Where to start.. this book claims to be about an assassin, and you constantly hear about it, feels like it’s mentioned almost every page, but there is little to no action before -% of the way through the book. What little action there was felt lacking, and I was really disappointed that the tests felt dull, with most of them occurred off screen. The main character didn’t feel very greatest assassin-esque, and it seemed like she cared more about her appearance and being invited to dinners and events than earning her freedom. In all, it wasn’t terrible, but definitely don’t get where all the hype came from on booktok.
2022-01-30

6. Best series ever - Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is the first book in a series. Caelena Sardothian is a young assassin who gets taken to the palace to participate in a contest to be the king’s champion. While in the palace she must succeed in contests in order to make it to the final four. She’s the only women participating and must deal with other contestants bothering her. Strange things are happening in the caste, and contestants start disappearing. Caelena must find out what’s happening, win the contest, and hope to stay alive and out of the kings radar until then. This book is a great first book in a series and has lots of romance, action, and plot twists. You won’t want to put this book down!
2021-12-27

7. Absolutely the best - Oh, my gosh, I read this in less than a day, and oh my lord was is the best thing I’ve ever read, it’s, amazing, well written, intoxicating and beautiful with the best female lead in it. This was truly a very enjoyable experience to read, really, I really HIGHLY recommend this book
2021-09-14

8. An enjoyable start to a long, twisty fantasy series. - Throne of Glass was recommended to me by a friend, and I’m really glad I started this series, because it’s great. In the land of Erilea, magic is dead. A cruel king sits in his glass castle, greedy for power. And in the salt mines of Endovier, one young woman is determined to redeem herself. Celaena Sardothien is her kingdom’s most fearless assassin- but she’s been enslaved in the mines for her crimes. With the help of a charming prince and a gruff captain of the guard, Celaena is given an opportunity she can’t pass up: compete to become the king’s champion and win her freedom. But a dark force is brewing beneath the castle, and Celaena must discover what it is before it destroys Erilea itself. I liked Throne of Glass, and I think the worldbuilding was spectacular. There is an info-dump at the beginning, but once you get past it, everything else in the book is fine.
2021-08-31

9. One of the best book series I’ve ever read - To be honest the first two books I wasn’t really that into, but once you get to book three the authors writing gets so much better and the character development throughout the series is phenomenal. I finished all of the books in the series within days, they were that good! By the last book I couldn’t believe it was over, and I still have a lingering sadness that I don’t get to read more about the characters that have worked their way into my heart.
2021-08-16

10. Disappointed - I just finished re-reading Ms. Maas amazing Court of Thorns and Roses series. They are INCREDIBLE. If you have not read them- do yourself a favor and buy the series!! Maybe because I fell so in love with those characters and that world, this book fell flat. Really dissatisfied with the character interactions, after being so very impressed by the character development in her other series.
2021-06-02

11. Just Have Fun - There are def fantasy books with more realism, and more complicated characters, but this IS YA. If I was , I would have gone bananas for it. As an adult, I’m just having fun. It’s cute and a nice little escape. I read her adult series, so decided to check this one out, too. TBH, a year into this pandemic, the last thing I want to read rn is anything resembling real life; so, this is perfect. Give me young characters in a world of fantasy, having crushes on each other, and going after the bad guys. It’s the book equivalent of a lb. bag of candy ; )
2021-03-11

12. Throne of Glass - This book is fluidly written, but I found the plot was predictable and the author leaned too hard into the would-be red herring. I found Celaena and this cast of characters less interesting than the prequel, with the exception of Nehemia. Unfortunately this book also perpetuates age old myths about corsets. Corsetry and tight-lacing, which was historically rarer than it was common, are different things. Corsets are a predecessor to the bra, providing support for the well endowed and creating the understructure and silhouette for dresses with the help of padding, stuffing, and other implements in other areas. Dramatic narrow waists are an illusion created by a combination of these parts. No, corsets aren’t painful unless it’s poorly made, the wrong fit, it’s not being worn properly, or she hasn’t had waist training, which wouldn’t be the case here, since the palace is dressing her and she’s more than familiar with dresswear. People are perfectly capable of putting on a corset by themselves, as common women had to.
2021-03-07

13. Great Plot - Loved the storyline, but I’m sure I’m repeating many others when I say Celaena is a total Mary Sue. You can’t be , the greatest assassin in the world, a flawless pianist, and drop dead gorgeous without any character flaw. I don’t really count arrogance as a character flaw. I was able to get passed my issues with her character because it is a very compelling read, but since I’ve read SJM’s other books I can say I’m glad she’s put more depth and some flaws into her later writing. I’m hoping the rest of this series explores some of Celaena’s flaws.
2021-01-31

14. Throne of Glass is amazing!! - I’m just going to be honest I’m absolute trash for Sarah J Maas. She is an incredible author and absolutely gifted in her books! She makes characters that you just fall in love with! I’ve all ready finished all of the ACOTR series books and am so excited for the new silver flames book! I already pre orders it. Now to the actual review of TOG this story features a very strong women and I love her! I adored how strong minded and sassy the MC was. This is a wonderful exciting and fast paced read. I definitely recommend!
2021-01-02

15. A Throne of Glass - Fantasy is one of my favorite genres to read, so I was interested in this book immediately. I loved the world building and how much we learned of Erilea from this book alone. I enjoyed most of the characters as well. My particular favorite is Nehemia, but Celaena is a strong protagonist. The only issue I have is the plot is rather predictable. I think adding in a layer of magic to the story was great, and made it more interesting, but the tournament results and the murderer were easy things to predict. I’m also not crazy about love triangles, but I definitely enjoyed the book, so I will pick up the next one for sure.
2020-10-04

16. My Favorite Series !!!! - I’ve never taken the time to write a review before but this series deserves it. I’ve read the whole series and after reading it I had to take a break from reading because I couldn’t find another book that even compared to this series. Read the whole series, highly recommend.
2020-06-02

17. Investing - Maas is so incredibly detailed, and it’s clear how thought-through every element of the story is. She never includes something that isn’t integral to the story itself, and there are never loose ends left untied!!! She also is simply a master at throwing in plot twists with ease that even left me, someone who loves to predict the future, surprised. Highly highly highly recommend, but only if you have the time on your hands to get invested. Because I promise you; you will.
2020-05-11

18. Give me more. - Oh this book. It was great to see Celaena come to herself again and strengthen. And oh Dorian. But oh Chaol. I can’t. I love the friendship between Nehemiah and Celaena. It was so nice and I hope it remains that way! This journey is going to be a long one. But honestly, I also feel like the way this ended was a way like as a just in case other books didn’t come along? That might just be me. I cannot wait to keep reading the series. I’m excited. And oh the quotes from this book. I’m in love. Also, I so did not see the way she was going to win. That, was really cool.
2020-05-06

Release date: 2022-12-12 Genre:Romance $0.99

Release date: 2020-09-01 $7.99

Comments

1. Penellaphe just isn’t growing. - The first book, from blood and ash was great. But by the second book the characters are just toxic and boring. The immature tempestuous nature of their relationship which has not evolved much, because the characters haven’t, is boring and tired. They actually say the same thing to each other over and over again. I wouldn’t recommend continuing this series. I will begrudgingly finish perhaps, but the woman who wrote this probably needs to go to therapy, it would help evolve her characters.
2023-03-20

2. Loved it - A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire is the second book in the Blood and Ash series and immediately picks up were From Blood and Ash the first book in the series left off. I was just drawn into this wonderful story and I just couldn’t get enough of it. It was just so easy to get lost in the lives of these amazing characters and I just felt so much for them. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.
2023-02-27

3. - Love these books! This series along with Blood and Ash seriously are the best of the best. I am going to have to wait until every book is out before I can continue reading. My heart can’t take waiting to know what happens. Blood and Ash quickly became a favorite of mine but I seriously fell in LOVE with Sera and Nyktos characters. I have thoroughly enjoyed these books. Well done.
2022-11-30

4. Quite boring. So much reputation followed by messy writing. - It’s a good story line but so much more could’ve been done with it. I did end up finishing it hoping for excitement, really had to force myself though. Sort of disappointed I didn’t look forward to reading it after I started. The first few hundred pages are the same exact lines of the first book. Some parts later I didn’t even know what the writer was talking about due to sloppiness. It’s overcooked and undercooked at the same time. The battle scenes are the shortest I’ve read. Honestly, would not recommend.
2022-05-11

5. - So many issues with this book, just like the last one. There is a good story in here, but I feel like it wasn’t a fully formed idea. Like so much of the book repeats itself that I get annoyed by it. To explain I read anywhere from to hrs a week. Tv just isn’t my thing. While I like the idea, it’s just captivating enough to me. I also get caught up with the grammatical errors. The editor didn’t do a great job checking for errors. I’m not completely against this book and I only kept reading due to the last chapter of the st book. When Casteel was like …oh hey btw we are getting married. Poppy’s reaction had me thinking …..like okay I don’t love it, but I have to see how the train wreck ends. It’s not the kind of book series that expects intelligence from it’s readers to follow plots, and events. Especially when it’s constantly repeating what happened and who people are when Poppy is in her thought process. It’s like the author was just trying to fill in empty space by reiterating events. I honestly think these books could’ve combined down to just two novels and be done. But instead it drags everything out. The author isn’t the best I have read, but I do love the characters she created for Casteel and Poppy. I just wish there wasn’t so much regurgitated dialog and murky story lines. It made it feel like the book was stalling till something interesting took place. So I didn’t find myself laughing or crying or really that emotionally invested in the book as others have been. I know these books sell for the sex alone, but honestly to someone like me that’s only % intriguing if the rest of the book doesn’t have enough to keep my attention.
2022-04-02

6. just keeps getting better… - / — Forewarning that the first -ish pages go in circles a bit but that doesn’t overshadow the masterpiece that this book is. So many layers to this story & so many character developments that keep you DYING to peel them back. And the PLOT TWISTS! Oh my God! Such an incredible story/series that just keeps getting better. Again, think GOT. So much action & the cliffhanger at the is killing me. Starting the rd immediately.
2021-10-16

7. Best one yet of the FBAA series - I think this one may be better than From Blood and Ash. There was less world building need so the action started right off. I fell even more for Casteel and Poppy. Separately and together I love them. Poppy is fierce and doesn’t put up with anything and I loved watching her find her voice and place and heart. I also really love Kiernan. His wit and love and loyalty and general hotness makes him my new book crush for sure. Again all in all great book and definitely working its way up to my top like . Again totally suggest everyone read this but it is definitely not for kids.
2021-08-23

8. this book is literally drugs - I started the series because of the obvious fascination booktok had with it based of the scenes, but the writing was just so detailed and I was roped in from the first chapter. The tension, the characters, the plot development and twists. This book series has made it on my top favorites. If you plan to read this series, make sure you have no other obligations because it will be ALL you think about.
2021-06-15

9. UM BUY IT NOW - WHEN I SAY THIS BOOK IS AMAZING.... I kid you not. Literally has such a twist at the end I was shaking of excitement. This is a lengthy book and most of this genre can hit slow spots but it was just one of those books you can’t put down. I can’t believe what a good price this was and how fabulously interesting it is. PROPS TO JENNIFER I LOVED IT QUEEN
2021-03-11

10. Still good but some receptiveness - I was sad for this book to end, and already pre ordered the third one. I agree with another persons review where I just hated how naive and annoying poppy was for always doubting hawkes love and devotion to her. All the things he’s done to protect her, he’s killed when one slandered her name, but she was always like - it’s not real, he doesn’t care about me, and why would I like that if I don’t care for him, but maybe I do blah blah blah. I wonder if the author reads the reviews, because I truly hope the third book doesn’t have as much of that annoying thought in from poppy. Other than that, completely loved it! I’m excited to read the explanation of who she truly is. Can’t wait for April!!!
2021-03-08

11. Extremely repetitive - Okay, to start- the series is phenomenal and I could not stop reading the first book. But this second book as been somewhat of a let down. It’s so repetitive I have a hard time reading without getting distracted by something else. Poppy is still in copious amounts of unrelenting denial for no reason. She knows the truth of her kingdom and what Casteel had done to save her, and she has been given very little reason to continue to fight back against him and continuously try to escape. The conversations and arguments are on what seems to be a long loop, of the same explanation given by casteel and the same questions being asked over and over and over again by poppy. She’s frustratingly daft throughout the entire book and there are many pointless monologues and scene builders throughout the book that just take too much time and space in the book to read. I often skipped pages worth of their conversations and inner monologue to end up still reading the same things and getting just as much information skipping pages as I would have reading them all. I love the story but I’m sincerely hoping that the potential isn’t wasted in the third book
2021-02-21

Release date: 2020-03-30 $7.99

Comments

1. Utterly captivating - I will be the first to admit I was a little unsure when I started this book, but given how highly it was spoke of I figured I should give it more than a chapter chance and I’ve never been so glad I did! I completely fell in love with these beautifully written complicated characters. Plus, the spicy scenes are the best addition, I don’t know if I could love this series more!
2023-03-01

2. Loved it - From Blood and Ash is the first book in the Blood and Ash series and this was just a great way to start off a new series. Oh my gosh this was just such a great book to read. I was just drawn into this new world with it’s characters. I just was taken on a journey and I didn’t want it to end. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
2023-02-27

3. Captivating series! - I’m re-reading this series after re-reading the prequel series and it makes so much more sense now! I’ve never re-read anything but I loved both series and I felt like I was missing pieces of the puzzle or couldn’t remember certain important details. Glad I took that leap. Plus I’m also biding my time until the release of the next books in both series.
2023-02-26

4. It’s good but not great - this was a highly anticipated read for me and I think the author has some skill in world building, there are several unique aspects to the book but the writing still is somewhat basic and it can be painfully repetitive. I agree with other reviewers that this book could have been shaved down to about half the size. Sometimes the author just needs to make her point VERY clear but I think she needs to trust us as readers to understand context as opposed to spelling everything out for us several times. I’ll definitely finish the book, there are a lot of good things about it, but I think her editor isn’t doing her any favors.
2022-12-21

5. Love, Love, LOVE - I adore this book! I’m a sucker for romance/fantasy/action/adventure books, and this book HAS IT ALL! I know the beginning can seem a little slow to some, but trust me, it’s a great story build up! This series is probably my favorite of all time, and I will most likely continue to read and re-read these books over and over again. GREAT READ!!
2022-12-03

6. Like.. kind of..repetitive.. boring. Get to the point JA! - I’m really, really trying to get into this book but it’s difficult. It’s very slow paced and nothing is really happening. I’m on chapter or . The author is extremely repetitive in her writing. Writes a lot with out saying anything. I’m sick of reading how golden hawke’s eyes are!!! We get it? Ok? And yes we know Poppy’s the maiden. Jeez! I’ve heard her other books in this series are repetitive. The editor should have shaved this a down to half. Maybe get a new editor. I’m convinced JA was getting paid by the word. I’m going to finish this but hope it gets better. Life is too short
2022-11-29

7. Meh, no me puedo quejar - Le tengo aprecio a el libro por que me saco de un bloqueo y me introdujo al mundo fantástico puesto a que es muy entretenido, tiene un mundo fantástico bastante interesante y fácil de entender, si embargo pienso que no es libro que me explotó la cabeza de lo bueno que era, creo que la situación con los rebeldes fue abordada de una forma que a mi en particular no me gusto y siento que algunos personajes fueron muy planos apesar de la importancia y peso que tenían el la vida de la prota.
2022-11-28

8. First book in this genre - I have never read a book with smut or a fantasy style book. This was a very good first read for me. I thought the storyline was very good there’s a lot of character building which does some may seem boring because it doesn’t have this month but I really enjoy the tension that the author billed through the character building and storyline. About halfway through the book I read a review that said that the smut comes towards the end of the book and I would agree. It was definitely worth the wait.
2022-11-14

9. OMG - I loved this book. I bought the audio because I have read the author and enjoyed her books but was a little hesitant because of the new genre but OMG…. I only listen in the car to and from work and had to buy the books because I wanted to continue the story on my breaks, when I got home and when I woke up. On to book Two.
2022-10-16

10. Amazing but... - This story was so captivating and fun to read. I loved it so much I read it in one day! But my one problem is sometimes it gets repetitive. Latter in the book you see a lot of Poppy and Casteel repeating the same old material in their tense conversations with that in mind I still loved every word of the book and could not bare to put it down for too long. I usually don’t read books for fun so if I read a page long book in one day that means I loved it!!! I recommend you spend your money if you where thinking of buying It because it was a beautiful book that I want to read again already
2022-07-24

11. Amazing, hot, and an adventure! - Absolutely amazing, I have put this book off for almost months. The ebbing is painstakingly slow, but the middle and ending is AMAZING. If you are considering reading this, DO IT NOW! It’s an adventure worth reading and continuing! I know I’m about to buy the next book!
2022-07-18

12. From blood and ash - As much as it kills me to stop with Book in this series, I have to. I literally couldn't stop reading. For me, the perfect "series" is long books with an ending. I can't commit to an open-ended series simply because I would lose my "real" physical world in my literally-can't-stop-reading fantasy world. Too bad. So sad.
2022-07-07

13. My god - This book had everything, love, action, adventure, intensity, powerful lead characters, mystery and an amazing plot! It took me only days to ready this book, I meant what I said, I spent hours just reading cause it was so 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨. By all means, this book is worth the price and more! I’m off to read the next book in a matter of days again cause I’m sure I’ll be just as addicted as you will be too 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴.
2022-07-01

14. BookTok Find Top Favorite - I was feeling cautious about buying this book because I had seen it on BookTok and was nervous that it would not be worth it. Let me just say, that I am so angry that I did not purchase it sooner. I read the book in maybe days, and I just finished the second book in this series within these last four days. If you liked “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, you will definitely like this series. The plot is pretty different and the fantasy elements involve different kinds of worlds, but it still encompasses that strong female lead who wants to do the right thing, but also still has so much to learn about her world. Plus, there is a little bit of spice and romance, which makes you fall in this whirlwind of emotions with Hawke and Poppy. I personally loved this book more because of the details that really pulled me in to wanting to know more and more. I’m about to start the third book, so hopefully this series will continue to be fantastic. / and have already recommended to multiple people.
2022-06-30

15. I’m Pushing Through… - I’ve seen this book advertised all over BookTok and I was intrigued. I’ll be honest, this took a LONG TIME for me to be interested. I felt the plot moved extremely slow and I personally zoned out on all the long paragraphs — however…uh, plot twist of the century?! There definitely were twists and turns I did not see coming…I bought the second book and I’m going yo continue to push through because I have hope that this will turn into a page turner for me! Love the plot and the idea behind the story — I think the writing style is what’s hard for me to get in line with. That’s just a personal preference. :,)
2022-04-30

16. Better than Anticipated - I was a bit wary of this book cause of some of the other reviews saying there’s to much spice and the pacing is weird or that the balance between character building, world building, and spice is off etc etc. However, I really enjoyed it! I really liked the characters and I’m happy we spent a lot of time with Poppy early on to understand her motivations and feelings. The only part I did feel that the pacing was kinda just thrown to the wind was the ending and it seemed like the major plot points were just thrown in among the spice scenes, which just didn’t make sense. But it was still a really good read and I will continue the series!
2022-04-06

17. Drabble - Okay. So first off I’m not a young adult, and I also spend endless hours reading different genre. This book from the start of chapter one made me say, “I can’t believe I bought this”! I read the reviews thinking it would be decent. However, it is not. The author didn’t take advantage the world building, and then paralleling that to the character build. It seems like she spend too much time world building. Then, later in the last of the finally getting to the character build. Both (when done by a good author) can be done at the same time. Instead it’s jumpy with the scenes like there are paragraphs completely missing and your left wondering did something happen that I wasn’t aware of. This book reminds me of all the ones I’ve read so far on the Galatea app. Which is never checked by editors nor any publishing company. That’s what this feels like. Like it was produced by an “online email get it quickly out” publisher. Time wasn’t properly spent checking and reading the story, because grammatical editing isn’t done anymore these days. My fav author took years to write her first book and it showed %. She built an entire world along with characters and made a best selling series because of it. Her name is Sarah J. Maas. She is way better than this writer.
2022-03-28

Release date: 2021-04-20 $7.99

Comments

1. Loved it - The Crown of Gilded Bones is the third book in the Blood and Ash series and I just loved getting to reenter this amazing world. This book picks up immediately after the second book in the series. Oh my gosh this book was just epic. I was just blown away by everything that was taking place. You get to a moment where you think that this series can’t get any better and boy does this author prove you wrong. I’m just speechless after that ending. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
2023-02-27

2. Less sex, more murder. - The story itself is fun, but there are unnecessary sex scenes and they’re not well written. I’m all for sex scenes when they make sense/add to the story, but at least a third of them are unnecessary, uninspired, and repetitive. Based on the rest of the book, it makes me wonder if the author was “encouraged” by an editor to include these scenes. I started skimming, then skipping, sex scenes entirely and that greatly improved the book for me. Slight spoiler ahead for an example. Example: Poppy is feeling seasick at one point so cas takes her belowdecks and somehow “distracts” her from being seasick with sex. When you’re seasick, the worst place to be is below deck, she’d likely start vomiting. This scene didn’t contribute to the story at all. It also felt poorly researched. One google search would have told her seasickness gets worse when you can’t see the horizon.
2023-01-22

3. It had some good moments - I’m obviously three books deep in this series, so it’s kept me interested this long. But I will say that I found this book to be a lot of dialog and inner workings. There were definitely a lot of bored moments for me where I felt like the main character continued to rehash information that didn’t go anywhere. Other than that I have enjoyed the overall series
2022-12-11

4. Get to the point - I had to give up. I tried. The first two books were good and gave a pleasant mixture of dialogue and action. But this book is just a constant repetition of her questions and repeated history of her bloodline and then hormones. I would read more about the whole thing with Kieran but honestly, I am tired of this wordiness that seems like it’s simply filling words on a page. I appreciate the enthusiasm of their love and respect but what’s the point? Get to it. I am going to try again as ppl said it gets interesting again later but a lot of scrolling past is going to happen.
2022-11-20

5. Had potential but fell flat - I enjoyed the first two books of this series so my expectations for this book were high. Unfortunately, I was severely disappointed. While there were a lot of things I disliked, I think the worst thing had to be the awkward dialogue. Half the conversations had me either rolling my eyes or cringing internally—none of it felt authentic and it could get really repetitive (like WE GET IT Poppy asks a lot of questions, do we have to mention it EVERY time??? It just quickly went from humorous to irritating). I also felt like the smut scenes weren’t fitting into the story and felt very forced which made them hard to even enjoy. This whole book didn’t have a solid plot and it just felt like a jumbled mess of all these different events (and a lot these events should have been really big moments but often felt rushed and underwhelming, but that’s a WHOLE other issue) that got very tiring to read. Especially, when the history started to get complicated and wordy … I ended up dropping the book and left it for months before reluctantly deciding to pick it up again. Fortunately, the last - pages got really interesting and it left off on a note that made me at least curious to pick up the next book. Hopefully we get more than what this book was giving us :(
2022-10-14

6. Dont question it just buy it - This series has a disgusting grip on my life, I tried to space them out so I would finish this one the day the th one came out. I have learning disabilities, I work hour weeks, I went on a family trip, and celebrated mardi gras. I still managed to I read page books from one weekend to the next. Read this book.
2022-03-08

7. Favorite series - I’ve read hundreds of books and NONE of them come even close to these books. The world building and plot are chefs kiss I couldn’t put it down. Twists and turns the whole series and it leaves you CRAVING MORE! I cannot wait for the next book! Perfectly written characters with gasps DEVELOPMENT! Loosing my mind I couldn’t recommend this series more to everyone.
2022-01-18

8. Great Story in the Blood and Ash series - I love this series. I read over pages in days and am anxiously awaiting the next book. Casteel and Poppy are complicated and spectacular characters. All of the characters are well formed and interesting. The descriptions of their kingdoms, while nothing in our world really compares, are so clearly visible and clever. Romance, intimacy, laughter, adventure and action on every page. Well done
2021-11-04

9. Tolerable - After reading the first two and being moderately intrigued by the story and characters, this book left me somewhat disappointed. The dialogue between poppy and cas was childish and forced at times, I felt myself cringing at unnecessary conversations. This book seemed to be one that was made just to transition for something bigger and more complex. A necessary evil for most series but up until the last - chapters I was forcing myself to get to the action. The spice was well written and not repetitive which I appreciated. I’m excited to continue with this series and it’s spin-offs as the next book hopefully will have more of a plot. Also what’s up with mentioning poppy’s questions so much…made the dialogue awkward and honestly annoying!! The story itself keeps me coming back and if you can power through this one than it’s worth it to continue.
2021-10-25

10. Disappointed - I hate to say how disappointed I was in this book. I truly enjoyed the first in the series, but this one seems to have no plot, the main male character is completely lost from the original and we are now bordering on orgies in the sex scenes which was not the vibe provided in the first book.
2021-10-20

11. I cannot put how good this book is into words. - Many people told me that, out of the entire saga, this was the least interesting book to read. If you heard this before, don’t trust them. It gives a much needed explanation; one that didn’t happened in the previous two books. If you think you know Poppy, I dare to say you don’t. Prepare for the cliffhanger this book will gift you. I personally cannot wait until / to read the next one.
2021-10-04

12. Another great one in the FBAA series - Armentrout doesn’t disappoint with the next installment in the From Blood and Ash series. I yet again loved this one. I love the growth from the characters and the depth she added to the world. I think for the most part this book moved a little slower than the last, I still loved it though, and the last pages or so were amazing! Poppy remains probably my favorite female book lead and I want Casteel or Kieran even more now. I know a book is good when the last few pages heading for the cliffhanger almost destroys me emotionally, which this did. The last time I felt like this was after Crush by Tracy Wolff. To say I’m dying for the next book would be an understatement.
2021-08-23

13. a lot - okay first off i love this series but this book in a way felt off, don’t get me wrong some parts were good, the wolven and the bond and the plot twists. however i feel like it was just written badly, in some chapters i felt like so much filler. parts felt off. i’m interested in what occurs after but this book is just something else. i hope the next will surpass this one.
2021-07-15

14. Absolutely, violently beautiful - This series is beautifully written! If you have ever had your voice silenced, been over looked, or have been “forgotten” this book will show you have important your voice is through the beautiful character Poppy! My favorite book series by far! Absolutely, violently beautiful!!
2021-07-06

15. I love this series - I can’t tell you how much I have loved these books! The stories are familiar enough to imagine the concepts but with creative and interesting twists that captivate you. I also love that they are so long - I am a fast reader and these have kept me entertained for weeks without needing a break. I can’t wait for the next book!
2021-07-04

16. Honestly…I’m at loss for words. - To say I’m excited for the fourth installment of this series is an understatement. I’m biting at the bit. Pulling my hair out. It’s an obsession. I’m really excited to see poppy break free of this “I have to keep my powers inside” version of herself that lasted about two and half books. I’m ready for revenge fueled poppy who takes and destroys and fights for her brother and the love of her life. To see her grow so much has been probably my all time favorite character development in any series I’ve read. So If like, you could release just a crumb of the next book, that’d be amazing, lol.
2021-07-02

17. MUST READ - i don’t understand all the slander. this book is amazing. it gives a lot of helpful information and things are starting to come together. the ending is great too tho we are left with a cliffhanger it is one that is worth the weight for the next book and it sets the next book up for a good beginning
2021-07-01

18. So pumped for book - I seriously don’t get all of the bad reviews, this book did have a lot of dialogue and in the middle it seemed to drag but so did book . If your a fan of the series you learn so much in this book and I feel like it was a great gateway book to the rest of the series. It’s going to be a long excruciating wait for the next book
2021-06-26

Release date: 2022-03-15 $7.99

Comments

1. Loved it - The War of Two Queens is the fourth book in the Blood and Ash series and is best read after A Shadow in the Ember which is the first book in The Flesh and Fire series that shares the same universe as the Blood and Ash series. I just absolutely loved getting to reenter this amazing wonderful. I was just drawn into this wonderful story and I was just captivated by everything that was taking place. My emotions were just all over the place and I just felt so much for these characters and all that they have to go through. You just can’t help but fall more in love with them after each story. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.
2023-02-27

2. Disappointed - Like mentioned in other reviews, its was very long for no apparent reason, the book could have been concluded in a hundred pages, that's how much filler this book had. It’s as if the first book and this book were written by completely different authors, it’s that bad. I don’t recommend reading, this series started off promising but I recommend stopping after book two.
2022-11-28

3. Don’t waste your time - If I could give this book less than star I would. I never leave reviews on here but with this one I had to. This book ruined the entire series, ruined Poppy & Cas’ relationship, ruined their characters, this whole thing was awful. It’s like she wrote really bad fanfiction of her own characters & then published it. Won’t be continuing with this series.
2022-10-31

4. The War of Two Queens - OMG that book was hard to get through. The action is so sporadic and spaced out. I had to force myself to finish this book because I’m not a quitter. I feel as though this book was so full of unnecessary storylines and heritage references. What I find the most odd is how boring the entire book is and how the ending just seemed super rushed.
2022-10-05

5. The most boring book I’ve ever read - It took me months to finish this book because I could not physically make myself read more than a few pages at a time. No spoilers however, the entirety of the book is the main group of characters running in circles. Not one single thing of interest happens until the VERY ending. I quite literally could not recall anything of importance because it was THAT boring and uneventful. One other thing is the witty banter. Every single conversation is cringeworthy and childish and that’s usually where I ended up putting the book down for days or weeks. This series has progressively gotten less and less interesting with each book and I cannot fathom what the next book could entail. Very sad because I loved the first book and this series had so much potential.
2022-09-18

6. OKAY, VERY SLOW and boring at times - Story is very long and very boring in places. Sex scenes between Cas And Poppy are detailed and boring. I do not care where Cas put his lips, his fingers and his penis on Poppy. Very , Very. boring and is not necessary for this story. I read all four books in this series: Book promising of a good story to come. Book slow and boring. Book Very repetitive , boring not interesting. Book slow , boring And happy to finish this series. August, Pepper Freeport New York
2022-09-03

7. Emmm.. - first three books are absolutely amazing! It was addicting and hard to put down. But I think the book went awkward when the joining happened though, it’s so weird to have a sexual relationship with your best friend and his wife omg, it was unnecessary and they could’ve stopped. I really really hope the relationship stays between Casteel and Poppy, we don’t need another Jacob(also wolven ha!) between Edward and Bella
2022-08-25

8. World changing events - Casteel has been captured. Poppy has to find a way to free him and fight the war her mother has incited. There has been some controversy regarding how certain things were portrayed in this book. I’m going to address this right off and say that I do not feel that the author was in any way unfaithful to the character and story development she had established In previous books. This book begins almost immediately after the events of the last book. There is so much forward movement of the plot that sometimes has t can be overwhelming to remember everything but in the end it all pays off. I love how in-depth the world building is and how the author brings her characters to life. I am so excited to see what happens going forward.
2022-06-29

9. Oh my gods - I’ve read each book of this series so far. The story line is great and so is the love story.. I can’t figure out who’s hotter Cas or Kieran?! But there are ALOT of different gods and worlds and the story of their creation and demise etc.. U cannot pick up any of these books wo reading previous ones. I found myself rereading a few chapters to get a better understanding or clear up confusion.. Overall a good read, I’m looking forward to book .
2022-06-01

10. Not so impressed - This book went on and on, at some point thw middle wasn’t too interesting anymore. And then the JOINING. The whole sex scene with kieren, cas & poppy. Wasn’t really necessary. After spending books building thier relationship (cas&poppy) she has to crash it with this throuple. Phew it’s a no no
2022-05-25

11. Slower than other books in the series - I really like this series, but this book in particular was just slow throughout much of it. I blew through the first books and this one just kept losing my attention. I love the story and will continue reading the series, but this one just wasn’t my favorite.
2022-05-08

12. I really wanted to love it… - I’m going to talk spoilers bc I can’t address what bothered me without it. I’ve loved this series for Poppy & Casteel’s relationship, and I’ve loved Kieran’s character and wanted him to find love too. But after the Joining, now this seems like it’s going to be more of a throuple between Cas, Poppy, & Kieran and I just….that’s not for me. It feels like it lessens the relationship between Cas & Poppy now. There’s an imbalance. Cas & Poppy are married. They’re king and queen. Platonic friendships can be just as important as romantic ones. I don’t know why she didn’t just have it stay at that. The Joining needed to happen so Cas wouldn’t die before Poppy. Kieran needing to be that bridge is a bonus bc we love him and don’t want him to die. However, now it’s weird. They’re all three cuddling and holding hands and just…no. It didn’t have to be that way. They could’ve still had that platonic bond and it not have been sexual. But besides the main issue, this book took me over a month to read because it just seemed to drag on and on. And I say that as a person who has been flying through my TBR this year. I remember loving the first two books in this series so much that I read both in less than a week. I feel like she is really good at endings, they always hype me up for the next one, but the beginning and middle has kinda been boring these last few books. I’m still going to read the rest of the series, but I hope they get better pacing-wise. And I really hope she doesn’t make Kieran, Cas & Poppy an actual throuple.
2022-05-05

13. Dragging… - This book could have been cut in half and the plot/romance would not have suffered. Author spends three books developing/describing a relationship as singular, rare between two protagonists so much so that when Kieran and poppy’s friendship grows she makes sure say it’s different from the relationship between poppy and cas and that it’s not romantic. Poppy/cas/kieren share a friendship that is clearly established throughout all the books. So the “Joining” didn’t add to their friendship, bond, or character development, it simply made it sexual and cheapened the Actual friendship and the romance story she has been building up for three whole books. Not impressed
2022-04-25

14. Fabulous but long! - This was a great book full of everything we’ve come to expect from this series! It had twists and turns in every chapter. Poppy and Cas’s love was powerful and amazing. Poppy coming into all that she is was a great way to continue the story! My only negative (if you have to have one in a review) is it was long. There were parts of the story that perhaps, in my humble opinion, could have been omitted or shortened. However I would never give advise to an author this amazing to do something to their writing that might make it less. That’s why she does the writing and I do the reading. It’s a fabulous read and most importantly, I’m hungry for book , but the ending left me at peace and ok waiting patiently for the continuation of epic story. Please hurry Ms. Armentrout!!
2022-04-04

15. Disappointed - The love relationship between poppy and Kieran has gotten weird and uncomfortable tbh and I’m not here for it!!! I loved the friendship they were building from book to . Now Kieran and poppy are LOVERS, too? I’m so confused idk if I’m going to finish the series but I do hope moving forward with the other books the author makes some changes with her characters.
2022-04-01

16. Meh. Not what I want in my Protagonist - Warning: Semi spoiler below regarding character relationships. I’m a fan of her work but this one was simply not as good as the others. Dragged on quite a bit with no real purpose. And yeah I know “the” sex scene was eluded to in the books leading up to it but it was still gross. Despite the “I’m a strong female who makes her own choices with no regrets” narrative, all it did was perpetuate the stereotypical and purely male fantasy. Could be that other readers enjoyed it—to each their own and all that—but I found it disappointing and icky. Doesn’t mean I won’t read the next book in this series—I probably will—but first I’ll read to reviews to see if that particular type of relationship continues. I’m thinking (hoping) it was a one time thing. shudders But if there’s more of it in there, I’ll skip the rest of this series.
2022-03-30

17. Very Disappointing… - I’m sorry I really wanted to like this book but it dragged. Hard. The dialog was bad, the action was short and not of the caliber I expected, lastly the plot twisted so many times I gave up caring. The premise deserved more than this. It felt like a deadline needed to be met and everyone just said eff it! Go to print! I’m so disappointed I paid for this.
2022-03-29

18. The War of Two Queens - Pre-ordered this finale book of the series. I felt the ending was rushed into one chapter and the sexual content was too over the top and repetitive. If you like hard core sexual content then this book would be a . I was just disappointed in the ending and skipped thru the repetitive sex between Poppy and Cas.
2022-03-29

19. Absolutely loved it - I absolutely love this series! Every book that comes out becomes my new favorite. There are plenty of people out there that didn’t like the direction this one took, but personally I loved it. The connections these characters make are beautiful and the plot comes to a great turning point. I can’t wait for the next release!
2022-03-25

Release date: 2014-09-02 $14.99

Comments

1. Love Love Love Sarah Maas! - I have read the Court of Thorns and Roses series (by far the best that I have read in such a long time), in addition to the Throne of Glass series, and I must admit that I am in absolute love with Sarah Maas!!! My sister and I have been reading them together, and we both agree that her books are impossible to set down. Although the first two books of the throne of glass series were a little slow, the more I read, the more rich and compelling her novels became. My sister did some research and informed me that the Throne of Glass series is the first that Maas had written, and you could almost feel how her storytelling evolved and became so much more complex and equally phenomenal! I am extremely grateful for discovering Sarah Maas’s novel series!!! She is a phenomenal writer and I would recommend her books to anyone, especially if you are craving an epic story or a delicious fantasy that can captive your attention for hours on end! ! ! !
2021-11-13

Release date: 2013-08-27 $14.99

Comments

1. Crown of Midnight - Not as good as the prequel and about as predictable as book with the bonus of ending with a would-be cliff hanger, but still fluidly written. Could use more proofreading. While there’s only a few typos, there’s a couple of continuity errors i.e. shaft is silver here but gold in book . The wind was taken out of the ending because Elena straight up revealed the information at the end of book , so readers were left waiting for characters to play catch up for the entirety of the book. A lot of the story logic didn’t make sense to me. In this book, it is revealed that dresses in Erilea have pockets, so why did she ever need to shove knives down her bodice, much less commission special hair pins, when it’s easier to store them in her pockets and no one ever searches her for weapons? Why risk running into old faces at a ball when the study has a window for her to enter through? A lot of the character thought processes felt less organic and more conveniently written to get characters to go with the plot, i.e. forgetting the glowing rune on Celaena’s head that screamed magic in a land where magic guaranteed execution, which bounced between issues that also conveniently didn’t blow up while sitting on a shelf, i.e. cloaked library figure. Contraception as an afterthought is also alarming. The way the author portrays Nehemia as a “good woman” rather than the morally grey character that she is with her “the end justifies the means” mentality is problematic. I.e. martyrdom, bullying, and manipulation of allies to further your agenda is okay as long as your cause is noble at the very least sets a bad precedence, never mind the trauma she inflicted on Celaena. I’m also going to be that person who points out that it’s not possible for Celaena to unsheathe a broadsword from her back because the blade is longer than her arm. Also, when busting through a door, it’s the door or door frame that gives, not the lock, and for some reason the Captain of the Guard doesn’t know that kicking is the optimal method, but these are nitpicks.
2021-03-07

2. Honestly...? - There is not denying that the plot in the book is riveting. SJM is a good writer. The only reasons this book has three stars is because a): I love Chaol and wish that they had continued their relationship. And b): NEHEMIA! Nooooooo! She was my fav character! That’s why this book has three stars
2021-01-03

3. Ehhh pretty bad, not the worst book I've ever read but I'm sad I spent money on this :( - Idk man it's better than the first one I'll give SJM that but it still falls super flat in a lot of places. This book takes itself far too seriously for my liking and then it has the balls to fail at being a serious book bc SJM will try to incorporate comedic elements but it's never funny and adds absolutely nothing to the story. It's just not good, and I'm trying so hard to like this books series but I legit just can't rip in the chat.
2020-09-26

Release date: 2019-05-24 $7.99

Comments

1. Okay not great. - Concept is there, world building is okay. Plot moves quickly and that leaves characters lacking depth and development. I found myself cringing from the dialogue and writing. I was distracted by the inconsistencies in certain character's arcs. I loved the concept and story line, but left me wanting more depth and development.
2023-01-25

2. Nice idea but not good writing - i liked the idea behind the story but it goes too fast and the characters have shallow backgrounds. i feel like i didn’t really know anything about persephone and hades since they were kind of just thrown together. i forced myself to keep reading despite the childish writing and dialogue but it’s just not worth it to me.
2022-08-08

3. A great read, could not put it down! - I had been contemplating on getting this book for a while now and honestly I AM SO GLAD I DID. It was a very fun and easy read. I absolutely fell in love with the story and can’t wait to read more!! I love this author and her work! Also, if you’re into romantic, yet spicy stories, consider reading this one
2022-06-17

4. Couldn’t put this one down! - Such a great read that I finished in a day! This modern day telling of Hades and Persephone was everything and kept me wanting more. Touch of Darkness is a spicy novel WITH a storyline, which made this the perfect read! I haven’t decided if I’ll continue with this series because the reviews for the second book are BAD and most say Persephone’s character seems to worsen in a juvenile way. This book was great though! Definitely recommend!
2022-05-30

5. Don't Misunderstand - This book is so amazing!! I had my own preconceptions coming in but quickly found myself in love with the characters, the plot, and the world. Such a great read and very happy I gave this series a chance (I don't usually read romance or much fantasy). Very excited to start the nd book!
2022-05-26

6. Can’t read the whole book - The first chapter was good but for some reason that’s all the further I can get. I can’t ready anymore if the book last that for some reason. I only paid like $ for it but it doesn’t have an option to buy anything else except for the audio book and unfortunately I’m not a big fan of audio books. Will have to look on Amazon for the book unless someone knows how to help me finish the rest on here.
2022-05-21

7. Finished in Days - I’m not an average book reader so when I realized I finished this book in three days it amazed me! Although, like someone else mentions it does have some Wattpad fan fiction elements in it but other than that it was pretty good! The characters made me feel certain emotions towards them, which is always a good sign for me. Also, it’s very very “spicy” ./ on spice meter for me
2022-04-23

8. SO SO SO GOOD - This retelling of Hades & Persephone is one of the best I’ve ever read. I read this entire book in a day and loved every page. I cannot wait to read the next books! St. Clair perfectly weaves a story of romance, fate, Greek myth, and forbidden love. It’s beautiful and I highly recommend!
2022-04-13

9. Loved it - Love the steamy romance parts ! I’ve read loves stories about aliens , vampires ,regular people but not modern day Greek gods - it was a fun twist ! I liked the story line and progression , character development - I guess the part that prevented my total love of this was the hesitation / self doubt from main character - it gets repetitive when the main female lead just doubts herself , is unsure , lacks confidence etc - she does find her way toward the end of the book but just my preference for a bolder female lead .
2022-03-16

10. Worth the read! - Sexy, Dark, Fun and a constant page turner! Plus the banter between everyone is wonderful and funny at times. I couldn’t put it down, I finished it in only days because I had to see what happened next! About to go read A Game Of Fate which is the order the Author suggests to read them in. Absolutely obsessed!
2022-01-22

Release date: 2015-09-01 $14.99

Comments

1. Sarah Maas My New Favorite Author - I have read the Court of Thorns and Roses series (by far the best that I have read in such a long time), in addition to the Throne of Glass series, and I must admit that I am in absolute love with Sarah Maas!!! My sister and I have been reading them together, and we both agree that her books are impossible to set down. Although the first two books of the throne of glass series were a little slow, the more I read, the more rich and compelling her novels became. My sister did some research and informed me that the Throne of Glass series is the first that Maas had written, and you could almost feel how her storytelling evolved and became so much more complex and equally phenomenal! I am extremely grateful for discovering Sarah Maas’s novel series!!! She is a phenomenal writer and I would recommend her books to anyone, especially if you are craving an epic story or a delicious fantasy that can captive your attention for hours on end! ! ! !
2021-11-13

2. Omg SO GOOD AHGHHG - Okay. Read this. Please . This book, I don’t think I was ready for all the adventure, mystery, and wholy crap, THE ROMANCE IS INTENSE IT KEPT MY TOES CURLING AHHGGG! I STAYED UP TILL : AM READING, it’s just unbelievable, I love how SJM describes everything so PERFECTLY that it’s like a movie in my mind!!! And yet again the way she describes the romance, my toes almost fell off. Like. AGGH. Anywho! My FAVE book in the series so far, so excited for the next booook!!!!!
2021-07-31

Release date: 2023-07-18 $7.99

Release date: 2022-02-11 $1.99

Release date: 2022-11-15 $7.99

Comments

1. OMG I can’t even! - I know better than to start a series before the conclusion is available. This is by far the most unbelievable story I think I’ve ever read. There are so many emotions wrapped within these pages! Devotion, tension , pain, sorrow, happiness, and bone deep love and life! I don’t generally do reviews as I don’t really know what to say but this one warranted my recommendation! Both Blood and Ash and Flesh and Fire series are amazing and I recommend this book more than any other series I’ve ever read. Five !!!
2023-01-22

2. couldn’t stop reading - This book truly was one of the best I’ve ever read. Pacing, character development, world building, the s p i c y scenes, literally everything was so perfectly crafted. We found out so much that explains so many aspects of the fbaa series. This cliff hanger is killing me and I can’t wait for the next book
2022-12-27

3. A masterpiece - Wow. Folks, straight up no words came to my mind beyond WOW and MASTERPIECE as I finished ALITF at : am. My mind was blown, and I was in awe of what I just read. Immediately time sped up, and my mind started buzzing with a hundred revelations, and endless ideas. I started frantically writing notes and questions. The fun didn’t end when the book did, it just kept on going in my mind! This was such a fantastic moment because I absolutely love when a book is closed, and then the theories and OMG moments take center stage in your brain. I still feel that joyful continuation of all the excitement, and hype leading up to it, and I’ll be pestering everyone I know to tell me when they finish because I MUST DISCUSS!! So, why was the hype worth it? Why all the joy? First and foremost it’s no exaggeration when I say I absolutely could not put it down. I listened to the audiobook non stop for hours at one point! That is because in every single moment, I found myself wishing I could listen faster than humanly possible to know what happens next. There were no lulls, no “filler” chapters I had to slug through. It gripped me and still hasn’t let go! Masterfully paced with so much delicious anticipation, I loved the wild ride of emotions! My mind continuously spiraled into a thousand theories, and potential reveals but as always Jen always surprises me! I live for the GASP I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING moments and Jen came to serve it all!! As I also always say I’m a sucker for books that make me laugh, cry AND scream and Jen gave it all, while having me begging PLEASE JUST ONE MORE PAGE! (I’m still begging!!) I loved seeing the characters growth both individually, as units and as found families. We got so much more depth to each, with reveals, and answers we have all been DYING for! We also got plenty of new WHAT DOES THIS MEAN moments to keep our brains searching, and inevitably reaching for rereads to look for more clues. I feel like the characters and places they inhabit really developed so much more fully in my mind. Everything gained a new layer of depth, and that’s thanks to Jen’s beautiful descriptions, and the deeply thoughtful humanizing of characters. I found so many moments where I felt deeply moved to tears or chills. Moments where I found quotes I HAD to write down to hold onto forever, because they felt like they were always somehow waiting for me. There to say hey, you’re not alone, it’s okay to not be okay. I found myself feeling like my own heart was there beating in Sera’s chest, and it was impactful beyond words. This book was so much more than just a good story, it was that moment of feeling seen and the knowing that you are not alone that so many of us search for. Thank you Jen for how much you clearly poured your heart into this, countless readers will be forever changed by your words. I also have to give credit to narrator Stina Nielsen’s amazing ability to bring so much emotion through without it feeling forced. I felt lost in the story, and completely immersed in the audio. Stina creates voices that are completely unique to every single character that speaks. You read that right, every single speaking character has a unique voice. How she manages to have such a range that is so well honed is incredible. It’s the reason why I always recommend the audiobooks for both From Blood & Ash series and this one as well because Stina truly brings them alive. Each characters voice is entirely unique, and recognizable without being told who is speaking. They feel real, tangible, and it’s clear she cares about the character as a whole, including their experiences that might influence the tone, and manner in which they speak. Her voice stays put in my mind whenever I see fan art, or read from the book without narration. Her range of male voices is particularly impressive, nothing sounds forced at all. She has a wide range of accents, and varied inflections that also play into the age of characters flawlessly. I especially love her voices for the young Draken Reaver Butt, because in my opinion that’s him in a nutshell. How she can go from a child’s voice to Sera talking without an ounce of trouble is flawless, she’s like a whole cast in one voice actor! Nothing feels forced or over engineered, they all feel realistic, true to the characters, as do the subtle differences in her tones and accents. Fun fact: Hands down her Casteel Da’Neer voice from FBAA is % my Cas now and always (which is saying something because he is my number one book boyfriend of all time!) and reading the book without her voice as Cas feels like I’m missing him! Stina will keep me coming back time, and time again to both series audiobooks (and anything else she narrates honestly) for all she brings to these worlds! So, to wrap up, and keeping it spoiler free, I’ll just say that I had so much hype going into ALITF. Especially since I am a member of JLA’s book club in which we reread all the books in both Blood and Ash and Flesh and Fire leading up to release day. We all met via zoom every two weeks to talk theories, and incredibly pick Jen’s brain. So my excitement and my expectations as a massive fan of hers were huge. I’ve spent months in daily group chats theorizing and day dreaming of what this book might hold. As usual, she did not disappoint, she somehow exceeded my expectations, as did Stina Neilson. This is hands down one of the best books Jen has ever written, and imo the best narration by Stina to date. Run don’t walk to read this book, because you might just find you needed it more than you could have ever imagined! Thank you Brilliance Audio for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
2022-12-07

4. Her best series yet - I’ve read every book she’s written and I think this series is by far the most interesting and well developed set of characters. It hasn’t been predictable, and the characters and supporting characters build as the series progresses. The romance is really good, the plot moves at a pace that keeps you reading and the heroine makes you proud
2022-11-25

5. Another unfinished ending - Be prepared to reread the first book. I tried to dive into this one just like the first and was so confused as it’s been months since I read this storyline. The second book starts off immediately following the end of the first. We’re left on YET ANOTHER unfinished ending. If the next book was available, I would dive into immediately. But I’m left unsatisfied at the end of each book, because we don’t know what happens to all the characters (specifically the main ones!!!) Just be forewarned, endings are not wrapped up. You’ll be left wanting.
2022-11-21

6. Loved it - I have been provided with a review copy of A Light in the Flame from the author for an impartial review. A Light in the Flame is the second book in The Flesh and Fire series and takes place in the Blood and Ash universe. These series are best read in publication order so this story is best read after The War of Two Queens the fourth book in the Blood and Ash series. What another great installment to this universe. I was just so captivated by everything that was taking place in this story. I was just drawn in and I felt so much for these characters. There was just so much that gets thrown at you that just when you think you’ve figured something out another piece gets revealed and you’re left wondering what just happened and oh my gosh what an ending. I need the next story immediately.
2022-11-15

Release date: 2018-10-23 $15.99

Comments

1. Best Ending of Any Novel I have EVER Read - Though the Throne of Glass series started off slow, it developed into the greatest series I have ever read. Kingdom of Ash is a work of art. From front to back you will be sucked into the story. I could not put this down once I picked it up. I stayed up all night reading it. Rarely can a book spark strong feeling of emotions in me, but there were many times I found myself sobbing so hard I could barely keep reading. Heartbreak and bitter triumph run thick in this novel. Your world will be rocked. There could not have been a better ending to this series. This is the gold standard to finishing a novel. If there is ONE book I could chose to read again for the first time, without hesitation I would chose this one.
2023-03-22

2. BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ - This was the perfect ending to a large r series. there were ups and downs, times i wanted to burst out with tear or with laughter. finishing was so bitter sweet because i truly came to love each character, as well as feeling as the story was a part of me. a book i will always remember.
2022-10-30

3. Omg - This book had mr laughing and crying and going thru so many emotions. Major roller coaster! Im so thankful for these kinds of series. SJM is just amazing to be able to write something like is im just in awe of her! Thank you so much for an amazing end to a truly special set of books. Im beyond grateful to have come across something so beautiful!
2022-09-21

4. RUN DONT WALK GET THIS SERIES! - This entire series is enthralling, heart stopping, and beautiful. But kingdom of ash… you had my crying, cheering and overwhelmed. It is so beautifully written. I never read a series twice… but I’m staring again at book one. READ THIS SERIES, you will not be disappointed!
2022-08-16

5. A fitting end - As Rowan searches for Aelin, Aedion readies the army for battle. Can they win? This book was equal parts heartbreaking and wonderful. Each character given the chance to grow and face love and hardship as the story progresses. Yes m a sucker for a happy ending and though not all of my favorites got a happy ending, Aelin did. It still amazes me just how many things are hinted at in earlier books and brought forward in this one. The author knows how to weave a story to compelling that you feel each loss and triumph as if the characters are you friends and family. Long live the Queen.
2022-04-07

6. A brilliant masterpiece! - I have not had a book series that enraptured my emotions and attention as this story has. It is no exaggeration that this series had me jumping out of my chair, cheering for the characters, weeping at their losses, suffering, and heartbreak. SJM went the whole yards with this series and in this final book, she left no stone unturned, no loose ends, and no lingering questions beyond what else the future holds for our beloved characters. The battles fought were long, detailed, and will have you sitting on the edge of your seat with your breath held for chapters. I cannot think of everything I want to say for this book as I just finished it and am still processing all of it. Is there anything I wish were different? No. No, I cannot say there is. It was everything I could hope the final book of an amazing series would be.
2022-03-03

7. Series was incredible…the last book tho? Too Long. - I loved this series. Just an incredible read from beginning to end. I struggled in the end though to stay engaged. Too many repetitive scenes, too many “she didn’t tell us this or that” and did it anyway. The entire story with the gods doesn’t make sense. I won’t say more than that. A little frustrated with the last book, but the ones before it were the best I’ve ever read.
2022-02-21

8. Amazing Series - I can’t remember how long it’s been since I found a book/series that’s kept me up all night saying “just one more chapter” over and over! This series was enthralling. I didn’t want to read the last book because I didn’t want it to be over. I highly recommend the entire series. Just one piece of advice, savor every word!
2021-09-29

9. I will forever love this series! - I love this series and wish it didn’t have to end, there needs to be a tv show about it so I can see these characters come to life! I’m thinking Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Emilia Clark, Jason Mamoa. Just to name a few. Although I’m sad for it to end, I’m happy with the way it did. Everyone who had a part in making this series did an amazing job! Thank you for this escape!
2021-08-17

Release date: 2016-09-06 $14.99

Comments

1. Very Drawn Out - First of all, this book could have been so much shorter if it weren’t for all the excessive writing and drawn out chapters where nothing of import happens at all. Some sections of the book dragged on for an eternity for no reason. On top of that, many of the characters who were unlikable before become even worse. The way the main group treats others makes it impossible to empathize with them. My favorite characters (the only respectable ones) had way less time than the insufferable ones and some were missing from the book altogether.
2022-10-17

2. So emotional - The ending was a whole wave of emotions! Im excited to read the last but also sad to know its coming to an end. This series is amazing and the characters are all so different. I love that the opposites always end up together and end up seeming not so different. This was my favorite book so far and had my heart racing the most.
2022-07-09

3. WHAT! - I love how much better the books have gotten. Book one I was like ok. It took me time to get into it. Mainly because it wasn’t as high impact as I expected, but it was definitely necessary for the rest of the books. It was the foundation to building the lead character. That yes she was an assassin, but she was also young and wanted nothing but fine things and freedom. She was running away from who she really is under this Assassin’s identity that someone else beat and branded into her. But I won’t reveal all the story for someone reading the reviews who hasn’t read them all yet but is considering it. I like the surprises and how the writer keeps things hidden and leads the emotions in this. I have never laughed and cried as much as when I’ve read this series. Just so well written that it’s the one and oh time I’d want to meet the author for letting us see into this world that she had imagined and created. Just wish I knew how to write this good myself.
2022-03-19

4. Apple books page count wrong? - This whole series is amazing, but there is something really wrong about the digital version of the series. I’m reviewing this book from when I read the physical release, but when it says this book has pages, it is definitely wrong. For this whole series except the first book, they all have the page count wrong. Empire of storms is actually pages. The final book of the series is pages. And for the rest of the books, they have much more pages than what they said on the page count. I just wanted to warn people who are reading this digital. Anyway, this is an amazing YA series, and should be read for people who love YA fantasy.
2021-09-16

5. Wow this series - Reading is what I enjoy doing and I’ve read thousands of books... this series sets apart from every single other series or books from writes and expresses the characters and story lines I. A way that makes you feel not like your reading a book but actually living the tale.. no other authors have ever touched me the way sarah j Maas gets inside.. great series good job write us more pls...
2020-12-09

Release date: 2023-03-21 $4.99

Comments

1. Loved this sweet paranormal romance - Cauldrons Call is KP nd book in The Curse of the Blood Moon Series. I don’t read too many PNR but Kristen had this way of just sucking you in. The story is one of love, faith, hope and never giving up or letting fear take over you. Brenna and Giles’ story of one fated mated, friends to lovers, and unrequited love. Brenna had loved Giles since she was , and he had secretly pined over her too. In this book we follow the roller coaster of them trying to ward off and kill the evil spirit that is trying to take over their lives. Together with Lucy, Jonás, Lorelei, and Xander they are trying to brake the spell on Hollows End before time runs out. Loved getting the updates from Lucy and Jonás. And, I can’t wait to read the next Adventure in Salem’s Song where we will get the truth behind Xander and Lorelei’s love story and see if they can all finally defeat the evil spirits. I was lucky enough to read this book but also listen to the audiobook. Sebastian York and Samantha Brentmoor were amazing in this story. Their character transitions, pace, and diction were on point. They kept me engaged. Definitely recommend the book and audiobook.
2023-03-23

2. Amazing!! - I been dying for the second book in The Curse of the Blood Moon series and this story was everything I was hoping for and so much more! First, I recommend you read book one in the series because you'll understand the story better and also because book two picks up right after the ending of book one. Breena along with her witch sisters Lucy and Lorelei are still trying to find a solution for the cursed on Hallow's End. After what happened on book one they think they have some time for this, unfortunately things are happening and Breena once again is targeted by the evil entity. When a solution for her to be more protected comes in the form of her moving with her long time crush and unrequited love Giles, she tries to avoided it but at the end there is not fight because Giles won't back down until she is safe and in his arms. Giles is also a powerful witch trying to help Breena and her witch sisters to find a solution for all the madness happening in their home town of Salem. When Giles has Breena under his roof they become closer and those unrequited feelings Breena has had towards him aren't so unrequited after all because Giles has been admiring and having feelings towards Breena for a very long time. This story was just perfect! The mystery, suspense and thrilling circumstances made me not want to stop reading and the love that goes from friend to lovers between Brenna and Giles was just beautiful. Also the community and support from all the Coven working together was also amazing. I can't wait to read book three and find out what will happen next.
2023-03-22

3. Glorious Goosebumps - GAH!!!! I can't believe a book startled me, scared me. The evil stalking Lucy, Breena, Lorelei, and their partners would have had me running for the hills. Shaking in my boots. They are determined to defeat it and have their happily ever afters. They will have to work hard to make it happen. Lucky for me, I just had to read page after glorious page to see what happened next. No witch powers were required. Witches are now accepted in modern day Salem, Massachusetts. In fact it is a booming business for many in the Salem coven. But things are changing. The unexplained is occurring. Lives have been lost. It doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon. In book one we got a glimpse of what was happening. In book two it is so much worse. Grab some popcorn so you don't bite your nails. Keep the lights on. Make sure to lock the doors. I am ready to grab the salt and cleanse my home. All of this is because the author wrote such a believable paranormal story. Thankfully it wasn't all "deer in the headlights" moments. Love is blooming for Breena and Giles. Long time crushes will be rewarded. Evil cannot destroy everything, at least for now. I honestly don't know what to expect in the conclusion for Curse of the Blood Moon. I do know I am buying a security blanket to use while reading it.
2023-03-21

Release date: 2022-07-31 $0.99

Release date: 2021-10-19 $7.99

Comments

1. Loved it - A Shadow in the Ember is the first book in The Flesh and Fire series and takes place in the Blood and Ash universe. These series are best read in publication order so this story is best read after The Crown of Gilded Bones the third book in the Blood and Ash series. Oh my gosh my mind is just blown by this story. When I finally figured out whose these characters are and how they relate to the Blood and Ash series I was just stunned speechless. This story was just brilliantly done and I can’t wait for everyone to see these characters come alive.
2023-02-27

2. Almost, but not quite. - I really enjoyed the storyline, if you’ve read the blood and ash series it starts connecting some of the dots. But it felt rushed. I can see where she was trying to go with the the characters but she missed the target. I finished it simply because I thought it’d make the rest of the blood and ash books more interesting. I hope the second book is better. Hope this helped.
2022-11-14

3. Awesome - I could kick myself, for some reason I thought I’d read this book since I have read almost all of this authors books I could find. So I kept skipping over it until I realized last night that it didn’t say “read” but had a price to purchase. I started it this morning and it’s going on the evening and I can’t put it down.
2022-07-31

4. Great prequel! - Fell in love with Cas and Poppy…wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Sera and Ash but needless to say…I couldn’t put this book down. It makes me want to go back and re-read the other series because so much more information is laid out in this one that I’m having to really rack my brain to remember the details from prior. I’m going to have a hard time waiting till fall for the next installment!!!
2022-04-10

5. Didn’t expect… - I did not expect to like this book and only picked it up because I heard it gave hints to The war of two Queens. I am SOoOOo glad I did. I may not understand how certain things will tie in, but I devoured this book and am excited to see how it all meshes together. I love love love these characters just as much and Poppy and Cas. I am really eager for this prequel series (fingers crossed that it will be a thing)
2022-03-15

6. LOVE THIS! - I fell in love with Sera and Ash even more than I did Cas and Poppy which is saying a lot. I love the intensity of Ash and how different he is with Sera. I couldn’t put this book down and finished in over the weekend. Read all day and all night! I CANNOT wait until Fall for the next one.
2022-01-24

7. Doesn’t disappoint - I have yet to be disappointed in something JLA writes. This is a wonderful off shoot of the From Blood and Ash series. I love how stubborn and independent yet still vulnerable Sera is. And Nyktos is amazing. He’s tough and possessive but caring and sweet and a great ruler. I gave . stars only because a little of the details (especially at the end) get a little confusing. I’m holding faith that as the series goes on stuff gets a little more clear so I’m not worried. Again % suggest this book but beware of cliffhangers.
2022-01-22

8. Stunning! - Stunning! I devoured this and enjoyed every word. I loved being back in the FBAA world and getting a better understanding of the ascension and how it all started. The secondary characters surrounding Nyktos and Sera were all amazing in their own ways, and I loved the banter between all of them. This had incredible chemistry, jaw dropping moments, and an underlying tenderness between the two MCs that made my heart ache. I know there’s been a lot of mixed reviews, but I thought this was beautifully done.
2021-11-16

9. There better be a sequel! - I loved this book! I legitimately read it in less than a day because I was so hooked, but I will be forever disappointed if there doesn’t end up being a sequel. I can see why there might not be, but the book ends on a such a darn cliffhanger that I will always be left wondering about the rest of Sera and Ash’s story. Other than that, soooo good.
2021-11-08

10. The best fantasy romance author out there - JLA, never fails. I found myself always latching on to the romance of a good story but this time I actually craved the fantasy more in this book because it was just that good. Don’t get me wrong she writes the steamy bits freaking well. But I just adored the fantasy writing for this one. And when you mix the two together you easily get stars.
2021-11-05

11. Perfection - I had so much fun reading this and remembering tiny details from the FBAA books. I highlighted so many things in this book and I had a blast reading it. The ending is a bit of a cliff hanger but everything wrapped up nicely and I’m not too upset with it. I know this book is a new release but I already can’t wait for more books. Ash is the sweetest and sera is so fire-y.
2021-11-03

12. Loved it! - This book was amazing, devoured in a matter of days. I love the parallels between sera and ash and poppy and cas, it made me think back to when poppy sat with Nyktos and he said she was just like her, now it’s clear the “her” in question is sera. I think some could find flaw in the similarities but I think it works wonderfully since they are their descendants and traits can be hereditary. Regardless I cannot wait for the next book, the cliffhanger is almost too much to handle. I need the rest of BOTH series ASAP!!
2021-11-01

13. My Honest opinion - The book was good don’t get me wrong… but I do not care for books that leave the story hanging so much. There has GOT to be another book. The ending alone is what makes me not give it stars. It’s a great read. Sometimes a bit wordy. But the ending…. Ugh. I need the rest of Ash and Sera’s story. Like yesterday.
2021-10-25

Release date: 2022-12-20 $6.99

Comments

1. Good overall but a bit sad - Good storyline and followed along with the first book in the series. I really enjoyed reading Adrian and Isolde relationship development. A good amount of heart breaks in this book compared to the first in the series. This worries me because I don’t enjoy books with sad endings.
2023-01-02

2. I’ve this series… - I love the series and the world she’s created! I am struggling a Littke with Isolde however in this book. Her immaturity is jarring in this book. It does help to provide empathy as we understand the other characters stories but it’s difficult. I hope she matures in the next one! Love Adrian!
2023-01-02

Release date: 2017-09-05 $14.99

Comments

1. READ IT! - i absolutely loved this book! when i began reading it, Chaol was one of my least favorite characters. This books being about his journey to a different continent had me not wanting to read it. HOWEVER, this book completely changed my mind and i now love his character. i love the emotion and character development that goes on in this book! WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND
2022-10-14

2. Meh - While there is a lot of character development with Chaol in the series that reprieves him from his previous behavior in the prior book…. I don’t think it deserved an entire novel only the last few chapters were important information that related to the series. The only characters I think that deserve their entire own separate novel is Dorian and Manon. But, that’s my hope for the future anyways. This wasn’t too bad, but I still think it could’ve been condensed. Amongst SJM fans this seems to be the least loved novel just because of the characters it’s about. SJM is a very talented beautiful author. I love love her writing. It’s just that Choal wasn’t one of my fav characters in the above others more favored. I think Dorian and Manon deserved their own book more. I just love them and I didn’t think I would like Manon at all, but Identify more with her and Dorian than any of the other sub characters in the series.
2022-03-26

3. Great continuation of the series - I was a little skeptical going into this book because I had no idea it was focused on Chaol and Nesryn’s journey. I knew it would still be good regardless but I really really enjoyed this book. I really appreciated being able to experience Chaol’s character development. My only complaint is that because so many new characters were introduced, I wish we could get more of them! I’m really looking forward to reading Kingdom of Ash now and seeing how this all wraps up. This series has my heart.
2022-02-22

4. Surprisingly brilliant!!! - I am one of the fans that absolutely despised Chaol as a character. I was NOT excited to read this story and actually put it off for a month before starting it. Dragging my feet only kept me from enjoying this masterpiece sooner! This story was perfect and brought with it so much hope and faith in the journey ahead. Hope that was sorely needed after the heartbreaking ending to Empire of Storms. Chaol has redeemed himself in my eyes and has fully embraced his role in this story. I am so excited to see where the next and last book of this series will take him and all the rest of our beloved characters.
2022-02-18

5. Tower of Dawn - I might regret writing this so soon considering I havent finished this book yet, but pages in and I feel like the story is going so slow. I feel like it was written to stop us from jumping right into the finale, sort of a “filler” to make the series longer than it should be. Although I appreciate the build-up and the stories of Chaol and Nesryn while being away from the others, I wish Maas had made this a bit shorter or perhaps a novella, and not dedicate an entire book that’s taking forever to wrap up. Still, I do recognize the threads that I’m sure will weave everything into place, especially the characters that seemed minor from The Assasin’s Blade. Maybe I’ll add more stars once I finally finish and decide that it was all worth it after all.
2021-10-29

6. Loved it! - I was a little put out at first, when I realized this book took us to a completely different end of the world with different characters. With the cliffhanger book had, I was eager to read what happens next. That being said, I fell in love with this book and enjoyed getting to know these other characters better. It all made sense in the end and was a rich, fun ride.
2021-03-11