I loved getting insight into the foundation and creation of things that we as the reader experience with Poppy and Cas.

It was such a bittersweet moment as Sera's clock finally struck midnight and we learned the outcome of her fate as it balanced to precariously on the edge of the knife. Oooooh it’s all coming together for the fire in the flesh series and of course the from blood and ash series. Most of the book is taken up with Sera's time in Kolis' company in the city of the Gods and that is without a doubt needed. She is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion, Harlequin Teen, and Blue Box Press; and PassionFlix recently made her Wicked series into a feature film.There were so many clues through out this book that makes me think she already is, but is it mentioned out right? I’ve already taken a huge chunk and traded in at McKay’s (those who know me know what that is) I still have them from kindle sakes and of course Audible. Just continuous questions from Sera, and yes it WAS cute the first two books but this quirk is just magnified by a million and it felt like I was in a lecture hall in college listening to my professor drone on and on. It has a couple modern day phrases and one of the silly jokes that jla inserted for people on her fb group but we’re so many books into this series so y'all should be used to it 🤷🏽‍♀️. What is the point of spending two books introducing incredible characters like Aios, Nektas, Bele and then not even using them?

For me, the Flesh and Fire has been a whole lot of fun and in my opinion, the stronger of the two series for a few books now. I loved the first book and it shows on here I didn’t even read the second book or I didn’t even bother saying anything about it and forgot. It seems like she has all the pieces necessary to put together what is going to happen with Poppy in the future.Sera discovers frightening facts that contradict all she thought she knew as she navigates the treacherous world of Kolis. I really enjoyed the first two books in the series, and I knew with the way ALITF left off, there was a lot that was bound to happen. If I had to describe this book in one sentence it would be 'This is what happens when all-powerful beings don't go to therapy. Thrust among those who see her as a symbol of a monstrous kingdom, she barely knows who she is without the veil of the Maiden. But for me it didn’t matter, because those last few chapters and pages will leave you closing this book with a smile on your face.

I think her capture could have been half as long and still pungent and emotional and progressive to the story. one of my most hated tropes in fantasy book is when the main characters separated for most of the book and A Flesh in the Fire had exactly that: for 65% of the book Sera and Nyktos were kept in captivity and their only scenes together where when they slept walk, while those scenes were good, it wasn’t nearly enough! I can honestly say that I have never been so emotional, so heartbroken, or cried tears of overwhelming sadness during a spicy, smutty scene before in my life.

Even the fillers in this book are filled with information that you know will be useful later on in this series or the other. There were still some repetitive conversations and the unending inner monologues of Sera, but the change of setting and the new characters brought some nice changes, thankfully.