The Crown of Gilded Bones

Blood and Ash, Book 3

By: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Narrated by: Stina Nielsen

Bow Before Your Queen or Bleed Before Her...

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes book three in her Blood and Ash series.

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...

©2021 Jennifer L. Armentrout. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Jennifer L. Armentrout has absolutely blown me away with this entire series! I've turned into a swooning fangirl!"—New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione

"Completely unputdownable and utterly unforgettable. Armentrout grabs hold of you from the first page of TCOGB with her flawless storytelling, engaging characters and the unforeseen twists and turns."—New York Times bestselling author K. Bromberg

"I didn't know I could be a bigger fan of this series than I already was, but boy was I wrong. Jen Armentrout surprises me at every page turn with higher stakes, hotter heat, shocking revelations, and a knows-no-bounds love that hits me deep, and I am here for it."—New York Times bestselling author Laurelin Paige

Yes for FMC badass-ery!

There are parts of this book that I would give five stars to and parts that I would give three so we settled on four.

Five star worthiness: continuing to build found fam, plot twists, learning more about the lore of the gods and various shifter folk, and seriously gut wrenching emotional damage scenes.

Three star worthiness: sometimes the spice felt forced or just simply too often (I know, I know, but it didn’t feel like it was adding to the story/relationship and at times I wanted to just move on - we get it…), there were also a couple times where the story felt oddly paced.

Still excited for the next book and love FMCS character growth!

Good but too much inside poppy’s head at times

I love this book series but this one dragged at times. I would have preferred hearing less of poppy’s thoughts lol.

The narration

Everything by Armentrout is amazing! If you haven’t read her books what are you waiting for?
As far as the audio performance, I feel like this narrator wasn’t reading with enough emotion. I’ve read this book to myself and in my head Poppy (the MC) is more quick with her words and passionate. Her wit more biting. And to me it sounded slow and steady. But this opinion is all my own and everyone has their own interpretations so someone would probably think I’m out of my mind.
But overall it, it was enjoyable and ‘intriguing’ ;)

series is awesome.

I read quite a few reviews. yes there was sex and yes very detailed. but the story more then lived up to exceptions. I was not expecting a story line with the way I read the reviews took the chance and could not stop listening. well worth the chance I took. now soooooo ready for the next book!

Still good

Overall I do enjoy listening to this series, but I feel like there is quite a bit of extra fat that could’ve been shaved off just a little to make the story more concise. I adore the ‘predecessors’ of Poppy and Casteel so I loved seeing them in this!