If you’re dipping your toes into the world of romantasy (romantic fantasy) then you’ve probably heard the name Blood and Ash. Jennifer L. Armentrout’s steamy, action-packed series has taken the book world by storm, combining court intrigue, forbidden romance, deadly secrets, and ancient power in a world where nothing is as it seems.
Whether you’re a new reader wondering where to start or a long-time fan looking to brush up before the next release, here’s everything you need to know about the Blood and Ash universe, reading order, main characters, plot arcs, and how it stacks up next to the likes of A Court of Thorns and Roses or Fourth Wing.
At its heart, Blood and Ash is a romantasy saga that follows Poppy, a young woman chosen as the “Maiden,” destined to serve the gods but forbidden to speak, touch, or be seen. Living a life of seclusion and obedience, Poppy begins to question everything when she’s assigned a new guard, Hawke, whose intense gaze and mysterious past unravel everything she thought she knew about her world, her gods, and herself.
From there, the series explodes into a high-stakes epic with gods, magic, political rebellion, ancient curses, war-torn kingdoms, and steamy slow-burn romance that eventually turns scorching hot.
The books blend fantasy, mystery, and romance, with rich world-building and plenty of plot twists that keep readers guessing. And while it starts with a single story, it expands into a much broader interconnected world with the Flesh and Fire prequel series and the Shadow and Ember offshoots.
About the Author Jennifer L. Armentrout
Jennifer L. Armentrout is a bestselling American author known for her addictive blend of fantasy, romance, and suspense across both young adult and adult fiction. With dozens of novels under her belt, including the Lux, Dark Elements, and Blood and Ash series, she’s built a loyal global fanbase drawn to her fast-paced plots, fierce heroines, and swoon-worthy love interests. Armentrout’s writing often explores themes of destiny, power, and transformation, and she’s praised for creating expansive fantasy worlds that feel both epic and emotionally grounded. She’s also an advocate for the writing community and openly shares her journey with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition, while continuing to publish prolifically and passionately.
Blood and Ash Series Reading Order
Here’s the best reading order if you’re diving into the full universe:
Main Blood and Ash Series (Poppy & Casteel’s Story)
From Blood and Ash (2020)
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (2020)
The Crown of Gilded Bones (2021)
The War of Two Queens (2022)
A Soul of Ash and Blood (2023) – A companion novel from Hawke’s POV
Visions of Flesh and Blood: A Blood and Ash/Flesh and Fire Compendium (2023) – World-building and lore
Flesh and Fire Series (Nyktos & Sera’s Prequel Story)
A Shadow in the Ember (2021)
A Light in the Flame (2022)
A Fire in the Flesh (2023)
Born of Blood and Ash (2024, upcoming)
This prequel series is key to understanding the origins of the gods and the magic systems that play a big role in the main timeline.
Recommended Reading Path
To avoid spoilers and deepen the world experience, many fans recommend alternating:
From Blood and Ash
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
The Crown of Gilded Bones
A Shadow in the Ember
A War of Two Queens
A Light in the Flame
A Soul of Ash and Blood
A Fire in the Flesh
Born of Blood and Ash (once released)
Key Characters You Need to Know
Poppy Balfour (Penellaphe)
The Maiden turned warrior queen. Strong, stubborn, and full of questions, Poppy’s journey is one of transformation, from sheltered obedience to powerful agency.
Casteel Da’Neer (Hawke)
A former Crown Prince and deadly warrior, Casteel is charming, cocky, and fiercely protective. His connection with Poppy is electric from the start.
Kieran Contou
Casteel’s bonded wolven companion, Kieran is loyal, perceptive, and a fan favorite. His relationship with Poppy and Casteel plays a huge emotional role in the series.
Nyktos
A god from the prequel Flesh and Fire series, Nyktos is a key figure in the origin story of the world’s magic, power dynamics, and immortality. His story with Sera parallels Poppy and Casteel’s, but with even deeper divine stakes.
Sera (Seraphena Mierel)
The Chosen consort to Nyktos, she’s brave, tormented by duty, and deeply connected to the series’ larger mythology.
Major Themes and Tropes
Enemies to lovers
Found family
Forbidden love
Hidden royalty
Immortal vs mortal dynamics
Slow burn that turns steamy
Rebellion and revolution
Gods, magic, and destiny
The tone shifts from romantic tension and mystery to political epic and divine warfare as the series grows, so it appeals to readers who love evolving world-building.
Similarities: Strong female lead, morally grey male love interest, court intrigue, and heavy romance. Both evolve from a singular love story into larger world-threatening plots.
Differences: ACOTAR leans more into fae lore and emotional trauma arcs, while Blood and Ash focuses more on gods, curses, and battle-heavy fantasy. Jennifer Armentrout’s style is also a bit more modern and dialogue-heavy.
Similarities: Fast-paced plots, powerful heroines, deadly stakes, and romance intertwined with war.
Differences: Fourth Wing has a military academy setting and dragons, while Blood and Ash feels more like a blend of medieval courts, divine myth, and high fantasy heat.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Similarities: Large-scale plots, multiple POVs, immortal romance, and a heroine with immense power.
Differences: Throne of Glass is more epic-fantasy adventure and less centered on the romance, whereas Blood and Ash balances plot with high romantic tension throughout.
The Blood and Ash series is a gateway to a lush romantasy world that only gets deeper and more expansive with every book. With sizzling chemistry, ancient curses, knife fights, and enough plot twists to keep you reeling, it’s easy to see why it’s developed such a devoted fanbase.
Whether you’re here for the romance, the gods, or the thrill of seeing a powerful heroine rewrite her destiny, this series has something for every fantasy reader. And with more books on the way, now is the perfect time to dive in.
If you’re dipping your toes into the world of romantasy (romantic fantasy) then you’ve probably heard the name Blood and Ash. Jennifer L. Armentrout’s steamy, action-packed series has taken the book world by storm, combining court intrigue, forbidden romance, deadly secrets, and ancient power in a world where nothing is as it seems.
Whether you’re a new reader wondering where to start or a long-time fan looking to brush up before the next release, here’s everything you need to know about the Blood and Ash universe, reading order, main characters, plot arcs, and how it stacks up next to the likes of A Court of Thorns and Roses or Fourth Wing.
What Is the Blood and Ash Series About?
At its heart, Blood and Ash is a romantasy saga that follows Poppy, a young woman chosen as the “Maiden,” destined to serve the gods but forbidden to speak, touch, or be seen. Living a life of seclusion and obedience, Poppy begins to question everything when she’s assigned a new guard, Hawke, whose intense gaze and mysterious past unravel everything she thought she knew about her world, her gods, and herself.
From there, the series explodes into a high-stakes epic with gods, magic, political rebellion, ancient curses, war-torn kingdoms, and steamy slow-burn romance that eventually turns scorching hot.
The books blend fantasy, mystery, and romance, with rich world-building and plenty of plot twists that keep readers guessing. And while it starts with a single story, it expands into a much broader interconnected world with the Flesh and Fire prequel series and the Shadow and Ember offshoots.
About the Author Jennifer L. Armentrout
Jennifer L. Armentrout is a bestselling American author known for her addictive blend of fantasy, romance, and suspense across both young adult and adult fiction. With dozens of novels under her belt, including the Lux, Dark Elements, and Blood and Ash series, she’s built a loyal global fanbase drawn to her fast-paced plots, fierce heroines, and swoon-worthy love interests. Armentrout’s writing often explores themes of destiny, power, and transformation, and she’s praised for creating expansive fantasy worlds that feel both epic and emotionally grounded. She’s also an advocate for the writing community and openly shares her journey with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition, while continuing to publish prolifically and passionately.
Blood and Ash Series Reading Order
Here’s the best reading order if you’re diving into the full universe:
Main Blood and Ash Series (Poppy & Casteel’s Story)
Flesh and Fire Series (Nyktos & Sera’s Prequel Story)
This prequel series is key to understanding the origins of the gods and the magic systems that play a big role in the main timeline.
Recommended Reading Path
To avoid spoilers and deepen the world experience, many fans recommend alternating:
Key Characters You Need to Know
Poppy Balfour (Penellaphe)
The Maiden turned warrior queen. Strong, stubborn, and full of questions, Poppy’s journey is one of transformation, from sheltered obedience to powerful agency.
Casteel Da’Neer (Hawke)
A former Crown Prince and deadly warrior, Casteel is charming, cocky, and fiercely protective. His connection with Poppy is electric from the start.
Kieran Contou
Casteel’s bonded wolven companion, Kieran is loyal, perceptive, and a fan favorite. His relationship with Poppy and Casteel plays a huge emotional role in the series.
Nyktos
A god from the prequel Flesh and Fire series, Nyktos is a key figure in the origin story of the world’s magic, power dynamics, and immortality. His story with Sera parallels Poppy and Casteel’s, but with even deeper divine stakes.
Sera (Seraphena Mierel)
The Chosen consort to Nyktos, she’s brave, tormented by duty, and deeply connected to the series’ larger mythology.
Major Themes and Tropes
The tone shifts from romantic tension and mystery to political epic and divine warfare as the series grows, so it appeals to readers who love evolving world-building.
How It Compares to Other Romantasy Series
ACOTAR (A Court of Thorns and Roses) by Sarah J. Maas
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
The Blood and Ash series is a gateway to a lush romantasy world that only gets deeper and more expansive with every book. With sizzling chemistry, ancient curses, knife fights, and enough plot twists to keep you reeling, it’s easy to see why it’s developed such a devoted fanbase.
Whether you’re here for the romance, the gods, or the thrill of seeing a powerful heroine rewrite her destiny, this series has something for every fantasy reader. And with more books on the way, now is the perfect time to dive in.
Share this:
Like this: