Committing to the TBR

I can’t believe I’m still here and done with the third book in the TBR challenge! I’m so happy I’m actually sticking to it and starting to see some progress. I’m starting to see my book shelf free up and it’s making me feel all giddy LOL. Even though we have a long way to go, let’s get to it with the wrap-up of this banter, love-bomb-filled, sexy, and steamy fantasy romance that is bound to rip you to shreds as JLA does.

This book is the first prequel novel to the From Blood and Ash universe, and this is absolutely hypnotic. After. being on the SJM train for quite some time, I had read the first three books in the FBAA universe and then I started SJM. Obviously, that took so much time!! However, I’m back with JLA baby and I’m ready! Going into this novel, I was aware that this was going to be a novel based off Nyktos, a Primal (or god) who we briefly met in I believe it was A Crown of Guilded Bones. He gave Daddy energy then, and I just knew we were in for a little treat! I, of course, was hesitant to read this as this was the first book without our beloved Casteel, but nevertheless, I persisted.

And let me tell you something– I was completely invested!!! It’s not history repeating itself, but it’s history repeating itself. And knowing what we know now in the FBAA universe, A Shadow in the Ember is an incredibly easy read with the main female protagonist Sera in almost the same footsteps as Poppy. We see a whole new universe unfold with draken and it completely opens up a new storyline to which we hadn’t seen before or come across.

Sera is one hell of a fighter and a character, but she doesn’t really resonate with me that much and is pretty forgettable. Maybe that’s because of the lack of care for her own life and the negative outlook and tone that she may carry, but I know that maybe my ideas and opinions will change on the upcoming books.

This was an intriguing storyline, but I refuse to believe that Nyktos could be so silly and to think that Sera was not supposed to ever come across the idea of killing him. I think it’s pretty apparent that that thought should have come across her doorstep once or twice before, I don’t really know why Ash is so naive when it comes to THAT. lol.

I usually don’t give five stars out this much, but I already bought the next book and I’m invested in the story line. For me not to give the book a high rating would be doing a disservice to the author. Regardless of what people may think when it comes to the editing style, Jen always keeps me invested and coming back for another book. JLA, you easily sucked me back into your world, you.

Personal Rating: 5/5