From Blood and Ash My goodness, I just finished the first three books in the Blood and Ash series and I feel the need to tell the world about it. Chosen for the chaste role of the Maiden in a land ruled by a mysterious people called the Ascended, Poppy Balfour is trapped. She cannot act freely and her life is already planned out for her. Then she meets Hawke, a dashing soldier with stunning golden eyes. I summarised the events of the first book above because things get incredibly complicated from this point onwards and there is no way I could include more without spoiling things. But this world is wonderful! I adore Solis and Atlantia and all the dynamics in these bloodthirsty yet charmingly rustic cultures. Armentrout always does a lovely job of descriptions - which I noticed in her other works - the Lux series (fit aliens - it works!), but here her talent really stood out. Her tone, despite the darkness of some of the plot, is surprisingly upbeat and had me grinning at the page