“A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire” by Jennifer L. Armentrout – A Review
⭐ Rating: 2.25/5
Year Published: 2020
Genre: Romantasy, New Adult
Page Count: 637
Quick Summary
This second installment in the Blood and Ash series picks up right where From Blood and Ash left off. Poppy is still trying to figure out her feelings for Casteel (aka Cas) while also navigating all the new revelations about her identity. Meanwhile, the looming war between Solis and Atlantia adds pressure to their already complicated relationship. Secrets, betrayals, and power struggles abound—but the real question is: does anything actually happen?
What I Loved
The Action (When It Finally Happened) – There were some really great action scenes scattered throughout the book that almost made the wait worth it. When the plot actually moved, it was engaging, and I wish there had been more of that momentum throughout.
The Ending – I’ll admit, the final stretch of the book was gripping, and it left me intrigued about where the story could go next. But getting there felt like a slog.
What Didn’t Quite Work for Me
The Pacing Was Painful – I really struggled to get through this one. The entire first half takes place in New Haven, and honestly, I was bored out of my mind waiting for them to go anywhere or do something. The pacing was so slow that I almost DNF’d it and only came back to finish it months later because I was already so far in.
So. Much. Repetition. – There were way too many scenes of Poppy and Cas having the same conversations over and over again. We get it—there’s tension, there are secrets, there’s angst. But it didn’t feel like much new was happening for large chunks of the book.
Static Worldbuilding – One of the things I love about fantasy is getting to explore different places. But since so much of this book was stuck in one setting, it felt claustrophobic, and I started to lose interest.
Who Should Read This?
If you loved From Blood and Ash and are fully invested in Poppy and Cas, you’ll probably enjoy this more than I did. But if slow pacing and repetitive dialogue drive you nuts, you might want to prepare yourself before diving in.
Final Thoughts
This book had some great moments, but man, did I have to work for them. The action, when it happened, was solid, and the ending was intriguing, but the middle was rough. I honestly don’t know if I’ll continue the series because I don’t think I can sit through another book that drags this much. That said, if you’re in it purely for the romance and don’t mind a slow burn (very slow), you might still have a good time with this one.
