From blood and ash (From Blood and Ash # 1)

 A lovely, chaotic mess. As were my thoughts about this book. It was a rollercoaster and sometimes I wasn't sure what to think. 

We open with Poppy, who is the Maiden, aka the chosen of the gods. But she doesn't have a choice in the matter. However, she is not what she is expected to be. For instance, she is visiting the Red Pearl at the book's beginning. We learn that as the maiden, Poppy is guarded and few see her face as she wears a veil in public. But she does like to sneak out and knows how to fight. She can also read people's emotions referred to as her gift.

It is revealed that Poppy has numerous things expected of her, namely her upcoming ascension, where she is given to the gods. Her brother Ian has already ascended and has married. It is clear early on that Poppy has little choice in her life. 

We are also introduced to the Duke and Duchess, the Descenters, and the Dark One aka Prince Casteel who all, except for the Duke and Duchess, perceive as the enemy. Lastly, Poppy meets a woman and sees Vikter, who is like a father to her, the woman sends her upstairs to meet Hawke Flynn and he kisses her. Swoon. But then he acts conceited and condensing, calling her princess. We are introduced to Kieran also. (I love Tawny, she is the friend that Poppy needs). 

Vikter and Poppy leave to deal with a cursed. They visit a man who is cursed, bitten, and going to become a craven. She eases his wife's pain and he dies but someone else was bitten also. They head over to the man's dorm and deal with him. 

Lord Muzzen scene. this man is disgusting. The Duke struck her so hard she lost consciousness, he is awful.

A woman is dead (Malessa). She was found with puncture wounds in her neck, believed to be a craven attack by Tawny, and believed to be a descenter by others. Poppy doesn't believe it was a descenter, and believes it to be an Atlantian, Vikter agrees. Atlantian in the castle. Rylan her guard is dead. They were attacked in the garden. The Dark one has come for her and her ascension may be moved up. 

Interaction with Mr. and Mrs. Tulis

Is any character besides Hawke, Poppy, Vikter, and Tawny decent in this book? What is the point of taking their only living child? To appease the gods? Something doesn't make sense. 

Meeting with Duke and Duchess

Hawke is her new guard. Duke and Duchess don't even know Rylan's name, as if we needed more proof that they are awful. 

Her face is revealed to Hawke- and the "breach" is allowed. What? something is fishy here. 

Ladies in wait think the dark one is near. 

Poppy summoned by the Duke

He beats her with a cane... The Duke is just awful. 

The mist comes. What does this mean? Someone is attacking. The Craven are attacking. Hawke realizes who she is, that they met at the red pearl. Hawke and poppy are goals. Her gift is changing. 

what happened to the first maiden? Poppy's parents killed by Craven. Hawke finds out about the Duke beating her. Lord Mazeen killed Malessa.

The Rite

The rite has begun but the duke is missing. They are almost done with third sons and daughters and the duke is still missing

Garden scene (weeping willow)

This is adorable. Darn Vikter. I liked him but then he acted that way towards Poppy.

Back to the rite

The duke is dead, murdered. I don't want to say it but he deserved to die. Descenters came to the rite, to attack. Hawke is hiding something. Is he an Atlantian? A lord? A prince? Did he kill the Duke after he found out what he did to Poppy? Vikter didn't deserve to die and she lost her father again.

Being called to the kingdom

Kieran is a wolven. Poppy tries to escape. Hunt is an Atlantian, and killed the Duke (called it). The Ascended are vamprys aka vampires? Create Cravens by draining blood? Is this really true?

I actually don't like Hawke (Casteel-still weird) anymore. But I still do somehow? He is forcing her to marry him but for some reason I still like him.