I told myself to keep my criticism and weariness to a minimum because if I learned anything from TCOGB, I can trust the author to satisfy me with her storytelling skills. In a way, you’re already spoiled how it ends. You already know to some degree what’s going to happen, so the fact that the story is somewhat predictable to that degree makes me not as interested. I was a little bummed going in because personally, I am not the biggest fan of prequels. It’s the beginning of a spin-off series set in the same world, you definitely get to see some Easter eggs of what is to eventually come with the Ascended and everything Poppy, Cas, and Kieran are dealing with in more current times. We go back approximately 200 years before FBAA starts and meet Nyktos and his Consort, Sera, who we know are actually Poppy’s grandparents. Armentrout, we kind of go backwards in time to go and meet an incredibly important character that we met in “The Crown of Gilded Bone:” The Primal of Death, Nyktos.

Instead of moving forward with the story of the “Blood and Ash” series by Jennifer L. Either way, her life is forfeit-it always has been, as she has been forever touched by Life and Death. And his seductive touch ignites a passion she’s never allowed herself to feel and cannot feel for him. Until the Primal of Death’s unexpected words and deeds chase away the darkness gathering inside her. A specter never fully formed yet drenched in blood. If she fails, she dooms her kingdom to a slow demise at the hands of the Rot. Make the Primal of Death fall in love, become his weakness, and then… end him.

However, Sera’s real destiny is the most closely guarded secret in all of Lasania-she’s not the well protected Maiden but an assassin with one mission-one target.

Chosen before birth to uphold the desperate deal her ancestor struck to save his people, Sera must leave behind her life and offer herself to the Primal of Death as his Consort. Armentrout, “A Shadow in the Ember” What It’s About:īorn shrouded in the veil of the Primals, a Maiden as the Fates promised, Seraphena Mierel’s future has never been hers. It is far easier to be lied to than it is to acknowledge that you have been lied to. ***Warning!! This review contains spoilers as this book is a spin-off out of the “From Blood and Ash” series, so continue reading at your own risk! You’ve officially been warned!*** Total Star Rating: 3 Stars Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance, New Adult Romance, Paranormal

A shadow of ember