The War of Two Queens by Jennifer Armentrout

Spicy, fierce, raw... a powerful and captivating continuation of the From Blood and Ash series.

I have waited a whole year for this book!  I read books 1-3 of the series last year in February and March, so the anticipation was beyond insane as we approached the release date for book 4. Due to supply chain issues, the hardback version of the book has been delayed until May, so I pre-ordered the audio. I was ready to go, as I was also buddy reading this with my favorite British friend and podcast host, Liz!

So, I’ll get right to it. This was a wild ride. The story picks right up where book 3 ends as Poppy continues on her Heroic Journey. Because, at the end of the day, the plot falls nicely into the pattern of the heroic cycle, but I don’t have time or space to write all about that. We’ll save the heroic journey analysis for another blog.

This read was full of desperation, passion, violence mixed with new self discoveries, twists, turns. As soon as you are able to catch your breath, you are thrown right back into the fire.  I loved it! Binge worthy? Absolutely, because every other chapter ends in a cliffhanger so how can you stop?

Poppy has always been one of my favorite fantasy characters, and she remains that way. However, as she continues to evolve and grow. Continues to learn who and what she is. Continues to hone her powers and passions. I’m not sure I like her quite as much as I did earlier on in the series. Don’t get me wrong, I still love her!  This is a testament to Jennifer Armentrout’s character development and evolution skills. To take a character and within four books have her grow and change so much that she is an almost completely different character. Thankfully, the essence of her remains the core pieces of her personality - the snarkiness, the feistiness, the compassion, the drive and the motivation.

Cass remains Cass, I feel that there wasn’t a whole lot of developmental changes there, and while Keiren has always been one of my favorite side characters, he is slowly being replaced with Reaver. However, the two of them together (Keiren and Reaver) probably have the most entertaining scenes in the book. They banter with each other and piss each other off like two spoiled brothers. Always trying to one up the other.

Since we are talking about characters, I’d be remiss to not not talk about some of the other important characters. Isbeth plays a large role in this book as Poppy continues to fight her way to her. Millicent is the new, most intriguing character. Not quite sure what to make of her yet, but that is part of the draw to her. What does she really know and want? It is clear that she will have a bigger role in the coming books as will Cass’s brother Malik, another one shrouded in mystery. But there are also characters like Tawney and Victor who continue to have a role in Poppy’s life even though it gets murkier as we go.  Five stars on character development!

“There are things far worse than death. Like her when she’s annoyed.”

So the plot.  It is exactly what you would expect if you have read the other three books. It was adventure and violence and snarky conversations. I will say that there were points where I thought the book would fit better into an erotica genre than a fantasy. I’m all for some steamy smut scenes, but this was the first time that I felt it was a little overdone and is the only area that I have anything somewhat negative to say about the book. I also feel a little weirded out about some of the developments with a few relationships. I just feel that it overshadowed the integral aspects of the plot.

Back to the actual plot. It moves quickly, there are enough peaks and valleys that you don’t get bored, but also you don’t get overwhelmed with everything all at once. It is paced smoothly and evenly. There are goals and motives behind each scene that builds steadily to the big climatic ending. Well, as climatic as it can be when there are still two more books in the series coming. 

I love that even after so much time in this series that Armentrout has held onto facts that are slowly dropped at the perfect moments to enhance other developments in the characters and plot. There are still twists coming, and they fit. Nothing feels fake or forced. Each book has felt fresh and new. There isn't repetition or dullness to any of the books. That sequel slump has been successfully avoided. I mean after four books, it’s safe to say we have passed the middle child book syndrome phase.

These are just great fantasy reads. At this point the world is built, and you can just lose yourself in the pages of the book because you know the world; you can feel it.  You know Poppy - the constant questioning of someone who is unsure of herself mixed with the fierceness and ruthlessness. You know there is more to come. More that we don’t know. As a result, we are just willing to eagerly follow Armentrout through Solis in hopes that she’ll enlighten us before we lose our minds.

Why do we learn things when we do? Why was it book four when we learn about who Victor really is and Malik’s connection to Poppy’s youth? Armentrout!!!  I’m beginning to feel like Poppy with all my questions.  Granted my biggest question is where in the world did the snake filled zombies come from? Those were truly terrifying!

“I can just burn them.”

Where does this book land on my bookshelf?

Top shelf of course. While this isn’t my favorite in the series, and I’m a little worried about the awkwardness in the Keiren/Casteel/Poppy triangle, I still can’t take anything away from the dramatic plot, the intricately developed characters and all the little twists and turns that hook you so deep that you can’t stop reading. This was a great continuation of the story. One that builds upon the other three, leaving me no doubt the next one will continue to do the same with new twists and turns. Behind every evil mastermind, there is always someone else. There are new characters that still need to be fleshed out, old characters that are more important now that need to be fleshed out. Loves, lives, and loyalties that need to play out.

You definitely shouldn’t read this one without reading the others first, as it would really leave you with some questions, but the book and the series in its entirety feels like you are walking on the beach during a lightning storm. You are not sure where the next bolt will strike, but you know that it will be full of heat and sparks.

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If you are really bored you can read about some of my personal adventures in life raising two teenagers and loving a husband who is fighting Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and all the lesson I learn along the way. Educate This.