The War of Two Queens

Blood and Ash, Book 4

By: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Narrated by: Stina Nielsen, Tim Campbell

Length: 26 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's Summary

War is only the beginning...

From number one New York Times best-selling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes book four in her Blood and Ash series.

From the desperation of golden crowns...

Casteel Da’Neer knows all too well that very few are as cunning or vicious as the Blood Queen, but no one, not even him, could’ve prepared for the staggering revelations. The magnitude of what the Blood Queen has done is almost unthinkable.

And born of mortal flesh...

Nothing will stop Poppy from freeing her King and destroying everything the Blood Crown stands for. With the strength of the Primal of Life’s guards behind her, and the support of the wolven, Poppy must convince the Atlantian generals to make war her way - because there can be no retreat this time. Not if she has any hope of building a future where both kingdoms can reside in peace.

A great primal power rises...

Together, Poppy and Casteel must embrace traditions old and new to safeguard those they hold dear - to protect those who cannot defend themselves. But war is only the beginning. Ancient primal powers have already stirred, revealing the horror of what began eons ago. To end what the Blood Queen has begun, Poppy might have to become what she has been prophesied to be - what she fears the most.

As the Harbinger of Death and Destruction.

©2022 Jennifer L. Armentrout. (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Aeeeether Annnnoying

I’m only a few chapters in and may have to read this written book instead. I don’t mind Castille’s new voice with Tim (I do miss the playfulness in Stina’s version but it’s not a show stopper). What IS a showstopper: the way Stina says AETHER every time. It brings me out of the story and it’s SO annoying.

Freed.

For the last year, I was in a chokehold by these books and this love story. No other books could satisfy me because Poppy & Cas were so beautifully written. The unnecessary sexual insertion of Kieran into their relationship was just unbelievable and silly. Thankfully, this book broke my literary chains and I am free to find interest in other stories. I will pretend the series ended at book 3. You should as well. Also, the new narrator sounds like an old-ish man. I thought it was well known that you don’t switch narrators in the middle of a book series.

Casteels voice

I wish they would have stayed with just Stina! Stina is perfect!! Tim you are a lovely reader but my expectations have been let down with this change!

Narration switch makes sense, and I like it

The reviews I have seen so far are not fond of the fact that another narrator was added. The switch in narration is strange in the beginning, but given how this book is WRITTEN (it switches from one point of view - how the first three books were written - to two povs) it really makes sense. Tim Campbell does quite a good job with it (and Stina Nielsen continues to be great). It would have been difficult to appreciate the full scope of what switching the point of view accomplishes in a written work in the spoken version without adding Tim, and given the purposeful change in style I wouldn’t have want to lose that as a listener.

Fascinating book. Can’t wait to see what happens in the next one.

Please never say eather like that again.

It was a well written book, I’ve looked forward to reading it for a long time. The narrator did great but I really wish she would stop drawing out that word like that. It makes getting through the book so hard 😂

Come on people, don’t be haters!

I’ve noticed so many reviews complaining about Cas’ POV narration. Yes, Stina spoiled us with an amazing Cas, and you still get her Cas with Poppy’s POV. Though I do think Tim did a fantastic job with his narration too! I’ve listened to a few of his narrations before and have been a happy listener :) Yes, it is a voice change in the fourth book in… but so is having Cas’ POV… and being a person who loves multiple POVs, I thought it turned out great!

On another hater note~

I’ve loved this book series very much and have listened to them multiple times… that being said, anyone who is surprised and upset at what happens in chapter 44… OMGoodness, GET OVER IT! There were plenty of hints and foreshadowing since book 1 people. I think JLA did wonderful job in making it into something heartfelt and special, not cringy. But to each their own, right? I don’t however, think that the book, author or readers/listeners should be bashed because of it. JLA characters and world building are magnificent and I cannot wait for the next in this series and in the Flesh and Fire series!

Absolutely hated everything about it

I loved ACOTAR. I struggled with the previous books in this series but muddled through to get to the end. My overall thoughts:
1. There was absolutely no growth in Poppy over these books. She is no hero. Rather a child who got lucky over and over again.
2. The painfully redundant sexual jokes and inuendos were grating by the end.
3. We all KNOW Kieran thinks Poppy asks too many questions. They were worn out by book 3. As were many other things meant to be humorous.
4. The painful inner monologs of Cass and Poppy were so childish. "I'd do anything and suffer at all costs for him." No! "I'd do anything and suffer at all costs for HER!."
5. The use of modern day slang was eye rolling at best. "F*ck Boy?" Really? Do better.
6. The author tried to wax poetic through the joining and it came off as campy and....well not very sexy.
7. Eeeeether....OMG. Narrator pronounced it 3 different ways and NONE were right. 2 syllables. E-ther.

I won't go on. I know most love this series but I hated it. I'll keep ACOTAR but will never read another book by this author.

Deeply betrayed by this author

Everything JLA setup in the first 3 books and then hinted at during the spin-off regarding Poppy and Cas relationship is a joke now. I am just done with this author and these stories. Good luck to y’all.

AMAZING! But I have a couple complaints!

I absolutely adored the two part narration. But it bothers me that the climax and ending were so scrunched and fast paced. We needed more detail. I don't wanna give anything away so I'll just say that the LAST ten chapters are what we waited over a year for. and that is the only thing that bothers me. 😭 Other then that, the book was amazing and I'm doing a second read already.

edit: Second read is done and I am editing this to say that while yes, the climax and ending were scrunched and a bit to fast paced.. it was utterly insane and so worth the wait. all of JLAs books are phenomenal and this series is WORTH every read thru and re-listen. and trust me.. I've re listened to the first three books tons of times. I CANNOT WAIT for the next book. the two part narration is phenomenal! the action packed scenes were very detailed, the LOVE between our favorite three is tangible. and how Poppy steps up to her new position as queen is breathtaking. ❤️ I love this series so much and can't wait for more. ❤️

The Male voice is not that bad.

Okay so hearing the new voice for Casteel was shocking. But it’s not as bad as everyone is making it seem. I get the issue of being use to one person and then a sudden switch up, but I personally was never a fan of the way Casteel was voiced to begin with😭.

The only thing I can say is that the man does make Casteel sound much much older. However Casteel is old👀👀. Anyways, if you just push through the initial shock, you get use to the voice and it’s not bad❤️

I don't even know what happened

I don't want to be disrespectful to the author, putting your work out there must be hard, but I think I may be done with these books. The writing is just so hard to follow, when you do catch up with what's going glung on you have to contend with Cheesy lines and underdeveloped characters. Like when she mentioned anyone outside of the main characters I have no idea who they are, what they look like or what kind of character they are, and then you're expected to feel something about said characters when sometimes happens to them. The books feel like they have no editor and that is possibly true. The story is good, apart from some choices made in this book that are a little weird. And while the story is good it's not properly fleshed out and just feels hollow and too much like JLA is explaining something to you rather than trying to make you feel like you're there I continue to listen to it because I want to know what happens in the story but the way that she writes it is just very amateur and at times painful to get through. The dialog is also so repetitive. Overall I just wish she'd take her time and get an editor instead of churning them out so fast

slowly slowly slowly speedy end

Did enjoy this, and will I be listening to the next . I was hoping there would be more focus on the other characters and did a mini air punch for the Cas POV chapters as it certainly gave this book more variety by having a different voice. Fingers crossed for more of this in future books. Found it better then the last however, the first book in this series is my favorite

Recommend

I Love this series (so far)

greate to get Cas perspektiv at times

not a fan of the ending
cause I don't want it to end... ever

Action and Passion.

The story was amazing as usual, just as what I have been accustomed to listening to this beautiful series. I think Poppy's character development has been deep and 'intriguing'. I adore the racey passionate sexy scenes too.

This is made perfect by Stina Nielsen's incredible talent to change her voice for the mood, the characters and whatever else that is needed to help you immerse yourself and be riding that emotional train alongside Poppy, Casteel and Kieran but I was really disappointed with Tim Campbell.

Having Stina Nielsen voice Cas up until this point when Tim Campbell came to narrate the Cas point of view chapters it is very jarring. He unfortunately just doesn't have the same emotional range that brings the characters to life and when he voices Poppy, it sounds mocking. Cas comes across as shallow in his thoughts almost like those chapters were written by a completely different person.

Luckily the majority is narrated by Stina N. and the emotion shines through her amazing performance and the writing.

Some eventual killer, but ALOT of filler

As much as I love this series and the story, and I really do love it, the author could've skimmed the seemingly endless filler from this book and The Crown of Gilded Bones and combined them to make one, fast paced and really exciting book. This series did not need 4 books plus one side book to get to this point! I found myself fast forwarding through the endless soliloquy's and overly, unnecessary descriptive sections (which to be honest just make it seem like the author is trying to impress than giving any substance to the story) to find I hadn't missed any key elements of the story but had saved myself minutes at a time. I'm hoping that the next book will be much more fast paced and actually conclude the story as opposed to mostly filler to set up yet another book!

Brilliant (*contains spoilers*!)

I’m not even sure where to start. I should have re read the series before the new one with it being a long wait from reading book 3 to the release of book 4. I have enjoyed this series immensely and this instalment was no different. I thought this was the final book and I am so pleased to know there is more to come from Casteel, poppy and the gang. I hated when they were separated and found myself impatient waiting for them to get get Cas back - I think we all knew she would. Their relationship has been the best part for me, seeing it develop and I wasn’t sure how I would feel if they ended up in some kind of love triangle but the way everything transpires works for the story rather than making it awkward or cringe worthy. I wasn’t sure about the joining chapter if I’m honest but it wasn’t too extreme so it didn’t put me off. I liked this series because although it has the sexual content it has an even better storyline which balances it out nicely for me. I really cannot wait for the next book and pray it’s not going to be over a years wait.
The audible version I listened to has been amazing. I love the narrator and her wide range of the characters voices, they don’t all sound the same and I feel I can tell when the characters change.
Thank you for another excellent book and an amazing series so far JLA.

Ok it’s probably me !!!

So I don’t know if it’s me but it might just be. I find that with this author I tend to really enjoy the first few books of a series and then I just can’t seem to finish it. I’ve currently stopped this book and have had to move onto something else just to realign my brain. I loved the first 3 books and have ocd so I have to listen to the previous 3 before listening to this one. And I really enjoyed the reread. But this one I find my mind wandering and have to go back to hear what I’ve missed. Maybe it’s cause poppy and cass aren’t together (not a spoiler. If you’ve read book 3) and cass is my favourite character but I find myself thinking for god sake just skip to the good bits. In saying that I do find it good that we get to see more of Kieran’s character. But for me I have to count this book as a book of two halves. I’ve read the first half and I will eventually go and read the rest. But it’s not a one sitter and I’m gutted as I was so looking forward to this book.

Stina to do future narrations

The male narrator ruined it for me. The accents and styles of the characters where completely different to Stina and threw me off I am used to her style. This far into the series, it’s disappointing to see the changes that where not as good as the books before.
Please stick to Stina only!
The book was amazing and the ending was fantastic.
I took a star due to the make narrator which annoyed quite a bit.

Underwhelmed

SPOILERS AHEAD: I think one of the most anticipated scenes in this book was the Joining ceremony. JLA has been priming for it since the start of the series and I felt that she skimmed over it way too quickly. The main character also seems to be suffering from “plot armour”, as nothing seems to harm her. She’s always got a way out of everything that finds its way to her at the precise moment she needs it. Cas seems to only care about sex. Kieran is actually the best character in this book. I didn’t really like the second narrator choice, but Stina was spectacular as always.

Great book 5*

Don't listen to the woke mob about a certain scene in this book, it makes logical sense if you've read the whole series. make your own minds up, don't just hop on the woke mob train.