I know I mentioned falling apart before the wonders of the first book in this series. I looked forward to the same kind of fire I got from reading the first book in the other books in the series and I got it. Literally and figuratively,I was on my knees,half astonished and in wonder of such wonderful pieces of fiction. I might be exaggerating a bit;)
I truly do not remember how I got knee deep into fantasy books. It's all I ever think to read about, it's all I ever want to read about. I don't know, it's probably the fact that it's based on things that are prolly not real and I can just be unreal in an unreal world or existence. I can just be comfortable and free. I have been done reading the books in the Blood and Ash series for a while but for some reasons, I've been left with no energy or will to talk about it. In a way,I feel I'm betraying that hidden and private existence the most isolated part of my brain had created amongst the characters of the books. And I know, it's crazy I'm still talking about it. I can feel my heart cracking a bit. You know that feeling of loneliness and longing you feel when you complete a series your life has been all about for awhile? I feel it. And I feel a ting sadness cause I cannot be there, didn't get to experience anything really.
To my horror,I found out that the Blood and Ash series wasn't completed yet and I was left on a cliffhanger. Oh,how torn up I was. The amount of sighs and random drifted thoughts I experienced wasn't healthy. This series left me confused. It made me happy,excited for the next chapter,it made me sleepless cause I couldn't sleep without thinking of what was going to happen in the next chapter,it made me day dream and imagine myself somewhere else, somewhere in their world,with a sword or a dagger,it got me waking up thinking I was royalty and something above the law. I was left in tears,laughter and a mix of the both, multiple times. I always needed a minute to collect myself and put my mix of jumbled thoughts together,so I'd be able to go about my day.
The Blood and Ash series is currently made up of five books; From Blood and Ash, The Kingdom of Flesh and Fire, The Throne of Gilded Bones, The War of Two Queens and A Soul of Ash and Blood. Now,I can say this as a warning or something to serve as anticipation. The Blood and Ash series is made up of completely lengthy books, capable of taking you away. That's definitely one of the best things I love about this book.
The Blood and Ash series revolves around the lives of Penellaphe Balfour and Casteel Da'Neer and other relatively wonderful characters like Kieran Contou ,Delano and so many more. Penellaphe Balfour;the Maiden,the Chosen one, the one who is blessed, the second daughter,Princess of Atlantia, the rightful Queen of Atlantia, the Queen of Flesh and Fire, The Primal of Blood and Bone, The Primal of Blood and Ash,The true Primal of Life and Death. The character development of Penellaphe had me on my knees. Every moment with her,every scene,every conversation,was crafted beautifully. I loved her bravery,her intelligence,despite being away from the humane things of life. Casteel Da'Neer; The Prince of Atlantia,The King of Atlantia, King of Blood and Ash. You get to see their individual struggles, you get to experience and feel them breaking apart,their pain,their screams of sorrow and hurt,you get to see him trying to find pieces of himself, trying to use a glue to put them in place,you see him fail, miserable and fall into ruins even more. You feel their pain. And you see them get out of it,you get to see them grow,to become stronger and accept that part of their very being.
I didn't plan on giving a review about the book as I find it difficult to precisely explain or give detailed reviews on books that did things to me. My aim was to share some annotations. I love highlighting beautiful dialogues,I love going through a book and seeing a line highlighted with a different colour. Sometimes to remember, something you want to feel again whenever you're going through that reading material, something to want to touch,to want to get closer to.
Hawke was the first and only one who saw Penellaphe for who she really was. He saw her,not as an object or a weapon but as a human being with feelings and emotion. He saw her. He saw her. He saw her.
Thanks for reading.