The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood & Ash, #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout | Review

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…

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

That ending completely wrecked me.

I went from being punched in the guts to screaming to silently sobbing to cackling like an insane lunatic.

Oh how I can’t wait to see the chaos that’s coming and more dragons


The Crown of Gilded Bones was far from perfect yet I still wholeheartedly loved it. The expansion of the world and it’s creatures was just amazing. Surprisingly, me—who’s horrible at keeping up with too many new terms thrown in books, actually was able to follow through all that was going on and being said. That literally never happens. I seriously loved learning more about the world and seeing how this will connect with A Shadow in the Ember … ohmygod I’m so excited.

But even though I didn’t mind the info-dumps, I will say that it did… drag on. It was around the middle of the book where I lost some of my focus and took some breaks in between reading. So yes, some parts were pretty boring but honestly those scenes where Poppy, Cas, Kieran and the rest of the cast just had fun made up for those slow parts. Still, the pacing could’ve been a lot better.

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“Bravery is a fleeting beast, isn’t it? Always there to get you into trouble, but quick to disappear once you’re where you want to be.”

No matter how many times I say this it will never feel enough, but seriously—Poppy, Casteel, and Kieran—I love this trio so much. Their friendship with each other is so raw and beautiful. The teasing and bantering they have. The many arguments they had but held with so much love… it makes me feel alive.

“Friendship was a far stronger bond than even something the gods could create.”

The bond between Cas and Kieran, especially—ohmygod it’s amazing I swear can’t get over the loyalty and love they have for each other. And every time, they call each brother, omg my heart🥺🥺

And here, Poppy and Kieran’s friendship grows even more. I love it * sobs * THIS PLATONIC FRIENDSHIP IS SUPERIOR TO EVER OTHER RELATIONSHIP IN THIS BOOK. Yes, even Poppy and Cas (they come in really close behind tho). Although I love them with all my heart, Poppy and Kieran’s relationship was just way too heartwarming and hilarious. I will never get over the intriguing convos they’d have with each other too ahaha omg.

My chest warmed. “You know what?”

He raised a brow as he looked down at me. “What?”

I reached over and patted his chest. “You’re more than okay.”

“Now that I know you think I’m more than okay, I can sleep well at night.” His tone was as dry as the Wastelands, but I grinned.

okay but Kieran mentioning the Joining when Cas and Poppy called him to talk about being their advisor was hilarious. omg why was that the first thing he thought of being called for??? Kieran, you’re killing me😭😭 and then he made everything so awkward omg I couldn’t stop wheezing bahahaha

“You will bow before your Queen.” Casteel eyed the Atlantian coolly. “Or you will bleed before her. It is your choice.”

And so then there’s my Queen and King—Poppy Balfour Da’Neer and Casteel Hawkethorne Da’Neer. After all the lies, betrayals, and many changes their relationship has gone through, the truth is finally out and their love for each other is so beautiful.🥺

“I love you, Penellaphe. You. Your fierce heart, your intelligence and strength. I love your endless capacity for kindness. I love your acceptance of me. Your understanding. I’m in love with you, and I will be in love with you when I take my last breath and then beyond in the Vale.”

Cas telling Poppy for the first time that he loved her broke me. And then Poppy saying it to him and Cas thinking he isn’t worthy?!?! STOP, NO * sobbing *

And can I just say that the cheesiness was so sweet??? omg I literally lived for those stupid but cute lines Cas would say to her. So many scenes I was just grinning like an idiot and a certain scene, I seriously couldn’t stop laughing omg. But seriously, the amount of times I swooned because of the things Cas would say??? ohmygod I love them so much.

“I do not want to be party to forcing you into yet another role you did not ask for nor desire. I will not replace the veil you loathed with a crown you hate. If you do not want to take the Crown, I will support you,” he swore, and the intensity in his words captured me. The irrevocable oath he was making. “And if you decide you want to take what is yours, claim the throne, I will set this entire kingdom on fire and watch it burn if that ensures that the crown sits on your head.”

I jolted. “You love your people—”

“But I love you more.”

please, stop Cas😭🤚

Okay but the banter between the whole group of them—Poppy, Cas, Kieran, Emil, Delano, and Vonetta—on their journey to Ilisseum was just perfection. They’re all such idiots and I’m so in love with them all. That one scene where they’re battling the skeletons omg I can’t-

Vonetta shouted, unsheathing her swords. “Couldn’t you have said that you saw skeletons in the hole?”

Casteel cursed as another bony hand appeared, this one clutching a sword in its grip.

“Armed skeletons!” Vonetta yelled. “Couldn’t you have said you saw armed skeletons in the hole?”

“Sorry.” Emil unhooked his swords. “I was kind of taken aback by the sight of fully functional, fucking skeletons with weapons. My apologies.”

——

“Cutting off the head does not work,” Emil shouted, and I turned to see a headless skeleton tracking the dumbfounded Atlantian. “I repeat. It does not work!”

Vonetta whirled, thrusting one sword through the chest of a soldier, and her other blade through the headless skeleton. “You,” she said to Emil, “are a mess.”

“And you are beautiful,” he replied with a grin.

OMG I SHIP. I’m not the only one who ships Emil and Vonetta, right?? I love them so much omg😭

I will shrivel up and die if any of them are killed. which will probably happen bc JLA likes to play with our feelings🤡

Now, I need to start screaming about something else…

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🛑MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW🛑

I swear the heart attack I got when I read the first 100 pages—

was JLA trying to destroy us so early on in the book???? Because it worked💀 a lot

Cas crying at the beginning of the book?!! Just no. Stop. I thought that was heartbreaking BUT THEN JLA GOES AHEAD AND HAS HIM BEGGING AT THE END TOO. AND BOTH TIMES FOR POPPY * sobbing * The first time because he was watching Poppy die and then the last time because he was again watching Poppy die–

what the hell omg Jennifer you’re a monster. I love you but I hate you. That’s nothing new though. Typical relationship between reader and author.🙂🔫

But omg Cas let himself be taken by the Queen coughIsbeth, knowing he’d be tortured again and I’m sorry, but I died.

Honestly though, it was pretty obvious something like that was going to happen. I had a feeling either Poppy or Cas would be captured, mostly Cas bUT ALL THOSE OTHER PLOT TWISTS??!! I did not see any of that coming????

Poppy’s father isn’t King Malec??? Poppy is a god??? Isbeth is Queen Ileana???? Ian’s death??? omg omg omg I can’t. I just knew that the cave cat would secretly be Poppy’s father but that was me thinking it was Malec, not Ires??? omg he was RIGHT THERE.

sdfsfsfs okay but that last scene was perfect, it’s the way I was literally cackling. POPPY BEHEADING KING JALARA AND SENDING HIS HEAD TO ISBETH BAHAHAHAHHAAHAHA revenge is so sweet :))) I wish I could see the Isbeth’s face.

Oh also I adore Casteel’s parents. Or well, maybe not so much anymore because of what they kept to themselves at the end but still, they’re awesome ahhhh their acceptance of Poppy omg and Valyn’s words to Poppy were so sweet🥺🥺

“My son is a very lucky man to have found you and made himself yours.”

His words embraced my wounded heart, and acceptance behind them choked me. It took a moment to speak. “It is I who is lucky to have been found by your son and have become his.”

Valyn reached over, cupping my cheek with his gloved hand. “And Eleona and I are even more lucky to have you as our daughter-in-law.”

OMG WAIT ALSO SEEING THAT WILLA COLYNS IS REAL AHAHAHA ONE OF THE BEST SCENES EVER. I had a feeling she was the Seer in the first book who told Poppy to go to that room Cas was in at the Red Pearl. Miss Willa, you are amazing ❤

Also, Reaver I love you already. Burn them all to the ground muahahahaha

🛑SPOILERS HAVE ENDED🛑

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I already know that I missed a lot of other things that happened but omg this review will never end if I continue. Literally still can’t get over the ending. Which fool thought it was smart to finish this book in one day??? And now to wait until 2022 for book 4??? Thank god ASITE is coming out this year. Nyktos and his consort sdfgdsfsfs I’m so excited. I can’t wait to meet Sera ahhhh!! And see more draken ehehe and see Nyktos, the scary god, fall in lovee.

I must say though, as much as I love these books I’m wondering how JLA will write 3 more books in this series?? It honestly feels like this series only needs one more book but I’m sure she has something planned👀

2022 will be the ⚔️War of Two Queens⚔️ and I am ready to see a certain queen wreak havoc * cackles *

ℍ𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕤? 𝔸𝕟𝕪 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕝𝕖𝕗𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕥 𝕒 𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕔𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕗𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣? 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕟𝕖𝕨 𝕣𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕖𝕩𝕔𝕚𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕗𝕠𝕣?

𝕃𝕖𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕨!💞