Title: The Crown of Gilded Bones

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Pub. Date: April 20, 2021

Pages: 625

Pub: Blue Box Press

Genre: NA Fantasy Romance

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Goodreads

---

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…

---

This will be a spoiler free review. Thank you to Jen for the advanced copy for review – I’m thrilled to be a part of your review team! Now that I’ve finished this book, I have no idea what I’m supposed to do with myself.

Y’all.

Y’all.

You’re going to have to bear with me, because I’m sure I can accurately put into words what this book did to me. But to give a quick comparison – this had the court politics of ACOWAR and the soft, vulnerable, character driven moments of ACOMAF. Needless to say, it was good.

From the beginning, it felt like Jen said, “hold my drink and watch this.”

The first 30% of this book almost killed me.

Then there was all the soft moments and political maneuvering.

Then there was that scene, my heart stopped.

Then the ending.

I don’t think I breathed while reading the last couple pages. I went from lying down to sitting up because of the electricity, dread and “omfg this is happening” that was coursing through me.

It’s been like 2 hours since I finished it, and I’m honestly still reeling. I keep staring off into space, replaying the ending in my head.

I need the next book.

Somehow, I convinced myself to not blow through this book in one sitting. In fact, I sat on it for a few weeks, lowkey equally terrified and excited to start it.. I’d already read the first chapter when Jen previously made it available and that shook me. Reading it again was just as good and then so much happens. Seriously, the start of this book is intense. I mean, it made my heartrate skyrocket. It was one thing after another and omfg.

But I forced myself not to inhale it. To sort of savor, it.

I took my time – and by that, I mean I spent a solid week actively reading it

I can’t remember the last time I didn’t inhale a JLA book, but I loved pacing myself with this one. I still now have to wait what feels like an eternity for the next one, but it gave me more time to process what was happening, to spend more time with the characters. I’m legit already planning on doing a books 1-3 re-read on audible once the audio is out of TCOGB – and I’ll probably end up inhaling it then.

Fuck, I’ll probably end up re-reading it again after that just to bide my time. I think the only other books I’ve re-read this much, and this often are HP and The Host. I haven’t even read ACOTAR or TOG this much. I can’t get enough.

I seriously loved this book. Despite all the big things happening, the world changing, life altering, very intense things that go down – this book felt softer. Cas and Poppy felt softer. And I mean that in the best way possible. While the spice is nice, the softer, tender moments were so good. How they communicate and handle each other’s fears and needs, oof, I loved it.

The revelations made about Poppy? I was not ready. She’s fucking amazing.

I love that Cas just cedes to her – but you’ll have to read the book to find out how. Because spoilers. He and Poppy are just so much fun to read – honestly.

Kieran is also still just as wonderful as always, and I really loved that his personality came out more in this book. And then there’s that one scene – it had me actually chuckling. I can’t wait to see what he does next in light of how the ending goes down. I have a feeling it’s going to be intense and super satisfying.

Also, there are some very satisfying moments with other characters…but you’re going to have to read the book to find out those, because again, spoilers.

Then there’s the expansion of the world – we get to see and experience Atlantia and can I go? Then there are the reveals that happen, the new characters we get to meet, the insight into the history and the lore. It’s all just so good. I love it when worlds are expanded, and we get to learn and see more. And the way Jen wrote and described everything – it legit played out like a movie in my head. Hell, this whole series has played out like a movie – and now I need a tv adaptation.

Can that happen? Please?

I still think A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire is my favorite book – so far – but this book has some of my favorite ever Poppy moments. It’s insane how far she’s come since book one. It’s impressive as hell and omfg I love her so much. Her journey in this book isn’t easy, it isn’t straight forward, and it tests her, but fuck, if she doesn’t make it all her bitch. She’s an absolutely amazing character. And I say AKOFAF is my favorite book, because there are two scenes even months later that still run through my head – I can’t forget them. If you know, you know.

I’m running out of words to say, because I’m still reeling and lost in emotions and feelings. You already know that I’m recommending this book and this series. It’s out April 20^th, so make sure you pre-order your copies. And if you haven’t read From Blood and Ash and/or A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire then you still have time – you just might need to inhale them – totally worth it though.

Also, if you’re interested, you can check out my reviews for FBAA and AKOFAF.

If you need me, I’ll just be sitting in a corner, waiting impatiently for the next book to come out. I need to know what happens next.

I need.