Early Review: The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash #3)

The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash #3)
By Jennifer L Armentrout

Published By: Blue Box Press
Publication Date: April 20, 2021
Date Read: March 5, 2021
Genre: Adult – Fantasy
Source: eARC from JLAnders Reviewers
Format: E-Book
Pages: 625

From Goodreads:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes book three in her Blood and Ash series…

She’s been the victim and the survivor…

Poppy never dreamed she would find the love she’s found with Prince Casteel. She wants to revel in her happiness but first they must free his brother and find hers. It’s a dangerous mission and one with far-reaching consequences neither dreamed of. Because Poppy is the Chosen, the Blessed. The true ruler of Atlantia. She carries the blood of the King of Gods within her. By right the crown and the kingdom are hers.

The enemy and the warrior…

Poppy has only ever wanted to control her own life, not the lives of others, but now she must choose to either forsake her birthright or seize the gilded crown and become the Queen of Flesh and Fire. But as the kingdoms’ dark sins and blood-drenched secrets finally unravel, a long-forgotten power rises to pose a genuine threat. And they will stop at nothing to ensure that the crown never sits upon Poppy’s head.

A lover and heartmate…

But the greatest threat to them and to Atlantia is what awaits in the far west, where the Queen of Blood and Ash has her own plans, ones she has waited hundreds of years to carry out. Poppy and Casteel must consider the impossible—travel to the Lands of the Gods and wake the King himself. And as shocking secrets and the harshest betrayals come to light, and enemies emerge to threaten everything Poppy and Casteel have fought for, they will discover just how far they are willing to go for their people—and each other.

And now she will become Queen…

“You will bow before your Queen. Or you will bleed before her. It is your choice.”

Oh. My. Fucking. God! There are absolutely no words to explain the emotional journey that is The Crown of Gilded Bones! I was so unbelievably excited to be reading this book. It’s no surprise to anyone how much I love Jen’s books and series but this one absolutely surpasses them all! Last year Jen saved lockdown by introducing us to her first high fantasy series. I hope she never stops writing high fantasy because she is phenomenal at it! There are no words to describe just how excited I was when this dropped onto my kindle and my god!!!! This book is such a journey. You think you’re ready for it, but let me tell you… y’all ain’t ready!

The Crown of Gilded Bones picks up right where A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire left off. We are thrown straight in the deep end with this one. I’m not joking. Shit gets real… FAST! I was left reeling right from the start, sat shocked and open mouthed unable to believe what was happening. Jennifer has really outdone herself with this one! If you’ve been following me for a while you will know I have been a huge fan of Jen’s for around a decade now… this is 100%, without a doubt, her best work to date!

I was absolutely not ready for this phenomenal book! Right from page one I was shook! This is one of the fastest paced books I have ever read. Right from the start it is filled with revelation after revelation; twist after twist. I was literally sat with my mouth agape. I couldn’t believe what was happening. There were so many twists I never saw coming and I never could have guessed. One thing is for sure… everything you think you know? WRONG! So! Very! Wrong!

The Crown of Gilded Bones was 100% a game changer! It is filled with so much emotion and romance. This book just made me fall even more in love with Poppy and Cas. They are definitely one of my favourite bookish couples of all time and this book absolutely cemented that! Just when you think their romance couldn’t get any better… it just does! Prepare to swoon and fall even more in love!

I absolutely don’t know what to do with myself! This book was so much more than I could have ever hoped for and more. It smashed every expectation I had and then some. The Crown of Gilded Bones will take you on a heart stopping, jaw dropping journey! Jennifer will once again prove that everything you thought you knew is wrong! This book is a phenomenal instalment that will leave you begging for more! This is absolutely Jen’s best work to date! It’s heartstopping and phenomenal! I can’t wait to see where she goes with this amazing world next! This is absolutely my favourite book of hers and I am left dying to get my hands on book 4! Brace yourself for the epicness that is The Crown of Gilded Bones!

“The heart doesn’t care how long you may have with someone. It just cares that you have the person for as long as you can.”

And as a little treat…. check out some of my other favourite quotes from The Crown of Gilded Bones:

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