A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire is the second book in the From Blood and Ash series. In this installment, Poppy navigates both her identity after discovering that everything she once believed was a lie, and her complicated relationship with Casteel – the man who pretended to be her bodyguard just to kidnap her, yet the one she can’t seem to stay away from. As they navigate their arranged marriage and their growing feelings, Poppy also begins to uncover that her powers might be far more powerful and mysterious than they appear. This is your detailed recap of A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire.
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
Description
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes a new novel in her Blood and Ash series…
Is Love Stronger Than Vengeance?
A Betrayal…
Everything Poppy has ever believed in is a lie, including the man she was falling in love with. Thrust among those who see her as a symbol of a monstrous kingdom, she barely knows who she is without the veil of the Maiden. But what she does know is that nothing is as dangerous to her as him. The Dark One. The Prince of Atlantia. He wants her to fight him, and that’s one order she’s more than happy to obey. He may have taken her, but he will never have her.
A Choice….
Casteel Da’Neer is known by many names and many faces. His lies are as seductive as his touch. His truths as sensual as his bite. Poppy knows better than to trust him. He needs her alive, healthy, and whole to achieve his goals. But he’s the only way for her to get what she wants-to find her brother Ian and see for herself if he has become a soulless Ascended. Working with Casteel instead of against him presents its own risks. He still tempts her with every breath, offering up all she’s ever wanted. Casteel has plans for her. Ones that could expose her to unimaginable pleasure and unfathomable pain. Plans that will force her to look beyond everything she thought she knew about herself-about him. Plans that could bind their lives together in unexpected ways that neither kingdom is prepared for. And she’s far too reckless, too hungry, to resist the temptation.
A Secret…
But unrest has grown in Atlantia as they await the return of their Prince. Whispers of war have become stronger, and Poppy is at the very heart of it all. The King wants to use her to send a message. The Descenters want her dead. The wolven are growing more unpredictable. And as her abilities to feel pain and emotion begin to grow and strengthen, the Atlantians start to fear her. Dark secrets are at play, ones steeped in the blood-drenched sins of two kingdoms that would do anything to keep the truth hidden. But when the earth begins to shake, and the skies start to bleed, it may already be too late.
Summary
Casteel Announces He Intends to Marry Poppy
The book picks up exactly where it left off, with Casteel announcing his intentions to marry Poppy after tasting her blood. This revelation sparks resistance from some, notably Landell, given what the Maiden represents. After Landell insults Poppy’s scars, it’s the last straw for Casteel, who rips out his heart on the spot. Emil and a new character, Alastair, walk in, and the situation deescalates.
After Kieran escorts Poppy out of the dining room, he tells her she smells like death. Once alone in her room, Poppy picks the lock and attempts to escape, running into the woods. Kieran and Casteel track her down, and Casteel offers her a deal: if Poppy can beat him in combat, she can leave. Poppy draws first blood, but their fight is interrupted when they’re ambushed by Craven.
Poppy remains vehemently against the marriage, but Casteel makes a deal: once they negotiate a truce with the Blood Crown, they can get a divorce. Poppy agrees, on the condition that Casteel also helps her find her brother Ian.
Later that night, Poppy has another nightmare about her childhood attack, and Casteel comforts her.
Poppy’s Powers Continue Growing
The next morning, Poppy finds Casteel gone and Delano, a wolven, guarding her. Delano suddenly bursts into her room, claiming he heard Poppy screaming – but Poppy insists she hasn’t spoken.
Casteel announces their engagement, but Alastair – a long-time advisor to Casteel’s parents – isn’t convinced and sees it as a ploy to get his brother Malik back. He offers Poppy an escape, but she declines. Alastair also reveals that Casteel was previously involved with Shea, his daughter and a wolven who died.
Poppy starts investigating Atlantian records, and Casteel points out a line of Empath Warriors whom he believes Poppy might be descended from. When Kieran accidentally touches Poppy’s arm, he feels a shock, hinting at her growing powers.
An envoy from the Blood Crown arrives at New Haven, demanding Poppy’s return. A fight breaks out, and Lord Chaney, an Ascended, threatens to kill a child unless Poppy surrenders.
During the confrontation, Lord Chaney attacks Poppy in his carriage, drinking her blood. Casteel arrives just in time, finding Lord Chaney on top of Poppy. To heal her, Casteel gives Poppy his blood.
Determined to help the wounded, Poppy encounters an old woman who calls her the second daughter, hinting at her destiny, though not in the way Poppy expects. People fear Poppy, as Empaths were once believed to feed on others’ emotions, earning them the title Soul Eaters.
On their way to the dungeon to confront Lord Chaney, Casteel pulls Poppy into a pantry and suggests they pretend to be Hawke and Poppy again, like nothing has changed. They kiss, but Poppy finds herself disappointed when it doesn’t go further.
Later that night, Poppy has another nightmare, and Casteel offers to pretend again, helping Poppy relax as they fool around.
Casteel’s Bloodlust
Poppy feels nervous about how to act around Casteel and the others as they prepare to Poppy feels nervous about how to act around Casteel and the others as they prepare to leave for Spessa’s End. She asks Casteel about Shea, but he dodges the question. Poppy wants to take Casteel’s pain away, but he refuses and doesn’t speak to her for a couple of days.
On their journey, they’re ambushed by the Dead Bones Clan. Casteel is wounded, and Poppy takes an arrow to her arm. While Casteel cares for Poppy’s wound, he suddenly freezes, his eyes turning black before he regains control.
They arrive at Pompay. Poppy accidentally wakes Casteel, whose eyes have turned black again. Unnerved, Poppy prepares to stab Casteel and screams, but instead, Casteel starts going down on her, and Poppy decides not to strike. Kieran barges into the room after hearing Poppy’s screams, finding Casteel and Poppy together. Casteel growls at Kieran, and Poppy reads his emotions, realizing Casteel is about to attack Kieran.
Kieran tells Poppy to run and get Delano or Naill, but instead, Poppy touches Casteel, sending him happy thoughts, which calms him down. Casteel runs off, leaving Poppy with Kieran. Kieran explains that Casteel hasn’t fed from anyone since meeting Poppy and needs blood. When Poppy asks about Shea, Kieran refuses to answer and teases her about their fake engagement. Then, he claims that Casteel and Poppy are Heartmates, but Poppy isn’t ready to accept that.
During breakfast, Alastair joins them and tells Poppy about The Joining, a process where two people connect their lives via a Wolven, synchronizing their lives. Poppy feels hurt that Casteel never mentioned it, concluding that he doesn’t see her as a long-term partner.
Poppy and Kieran convince Casteel that he needs to feed from Poppy. Kieran stays close because Casteel is too on edge and might take too much.
Eventually, Casteel gives in, feeding from Poppy while she’s pinned between him and Kieran. Once Casteel has had enough and no longer risks losing control, Kieran leaves, and the two hook up.
Casteel and Poppy Grow Closer
Casteel teaches Poppy how to ride a horse. Kieran introduces Poppy to Vonetta, his sister. Beckett, a young wolven in town, shatters his leg because he can’t control his shift into wolven yet. Poppy tries to take Beckett’s pain away, but when she touches him, her hand and eventually her body begins glowing with white light, healing Beckett completely.
Alastair confronts them again, claiming he thinks their marriage is a ruse and that Casteel should honor his word of marrying Gianna, his other daughter. Casteel clarifies that he never agreed to do that, and reminds Alastair that he does not speak for the Wolven.
More Atlantians reject Poppy, leading her to reveal that she was raised by the Ascended and never knew who they truly were. At that moment, Casteel confesses that he fell in love with Poppy long ago. Jasper, Kieran’s father, openly accepts Poppy after hearing their story.
Poppy feels upset when she returns to her room and cries herself to sleep. Casteel shows up, and they have a conversation about their feelings. Poppy is hurt that Casteel never told her about Gianna or The Joining, while Casteel is frustrated that Poppy could think he would consider someone else after all he’s done for her. As they begin to have an open conversation about their feelings, Emil barges in, announcing that the sky is on fire.
Casteel and Poppy Get Married
They go out onto the Rise to find the sky aglow with fire. Delano returns, covered in blood, reporting that 800 Ascended are making their way to Spessa’s End.
Casteel confides in Poppy about Shea. They were engaged, but Shea traded Malik for Casteel – and Casteel killed her for her betrayal.
They finally confess their love for one another, and Casteel suggests they get married right away.
Vonetta brings Poppy a blood-red gown. During their marriage ceremony, the sky turns pitch black, a sign of Nyktos’s blessing, the sleeping god of life.
Duchess Tierman Arrives
Duchess Tierman arrives, prompting Casteel to reveal his true identity as Casteel Da’Neer. In turn, Duchess Tierman reveals that Queen Ileana is Poppy’s grandmother.
A battle breaks out, and they are overwhelmed at first, but eventually, all the wolven join them, turning the odds in their favor.
Poppy kills Duchess Tierman, but not before she reveals that Malik and Ian are still alive.
Afterward, Casteel and Poppy have sex in the carriage.
Poppy heals a wolven, who informs her that the King intends to use Poppy to send a message.
Casteel tells Poppy that the wolven heard her calling, which is why they were able to reach them so quickly.
Poppy Arrives at Nyktos’s Temple
The next morning, Poppy, Casteel, Kieran, Naill, Delano, Beckett, and a few others set out for Saion’s Cove. They stop to rest at the foothills of the Skotos Mountains, the natural barrier into Atlantia.
Poppy, Casteel, and Kieran share a tent. In her dreams, Poppy hears a voice beckoning her and follows it in her sleep. She hears a voice telling her to stop, and a bright red-haired woman, Aios, the Goddess of Love, Fertility, and Beauty, stops her from stepping off the ledge. Casteel grabs her just in time, waking her. The mountains begin to shake, signaling Aios going back to sleep.
They arrive at Saion’s Cove. Poppy and Casteel separate briefly, and Poppy sets foot on Nyktos’s Temple, the most beautiful structure she’s ever seen. Too late, she realizes she’s surrounded by angry Atlantians.
The Atlantians begin stoning her. Suddenly, blood rain begins, which the Atlantians take as a sign of approval from the gods. The ground erupts, and a blood tree sprouts from the ground behind Poppy. Overwhelmed, Poppy absorbs all their hatred and kills them all. Eventually, hundreds of Wolven, along with Casteel, arrive, finding Poppy hurt and at the center of the temple.
Poppy fears the wolven might attack her, but Casteel drops to his knees, drawing his sword, noticing that Poppy is glowing in Nyktos’s Temple.
His mother, Queen Eloana, arrives and demands to know what Casteel has brought home. She declares it is too late, removes her crown, and places it on the floor of Nyktos’s temple. The crown catches on fire, burning off the gilded bone and shining bright gold again.
Queen Eloana commands everyone to bow to the Last Descendant of Nyktos and the rightful Queen of Atlantia.
Falling for Casteel? Same 😍👑 – Grab A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire today!
That wraps up the second book of the From Blood and Ash Series, A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire. I know not everyone is a fan of Poppy’s power-ups in every book, but I personally love a strong female character, so I eat it up!
I’ll be following this up with my recap of A Crown of Gilded Bones shortly, so make sure to sign up for our newsletter to get notified as soon as it drops.
How do you feel about Poppy’s growing powers in From Blood and Ash? Let me know in the comments!
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