The first book, From Blood and Ash was okay. Decent enough world development. some steamy scenes, if that's your thing, a main female character discovering herself and a conflicted male counterpart.
Penallaphe (Poppy) Balfour is The Maiden, essentially sequestered from interaction with others, abused by her guardians, and guarded constantly. Literally, kept under lock and key she is intrigued by a new guard who is added to her service, Hawke, who (SPOILER) is actually Casteel da'Neer, Crown Prince of the hidden kingdom of Atlantia. He plans to take her hostage to ransom her for his brother who is being kept by Solis.
Then, unexpected plot twist!
He falls in love with her because she is fierce and independent and very, very, naive.
The books following: A Kingdom of Flesh & Fire, A Crown of Gilded Bones, The War of Two Queens continue to follow these two characters (and a host of werewolves, zombies, vampires, gods and goddeses, as well as lesser deities, and elementals!), as they battle the evil "Blood Crown" (i.e. the evil monarchy of Solis), unravel the mystery of Poppy's birth and history, and continue to have sex multiple times a day. Armentout weaves in sex scenes after and before battles, in carriages, pools, beds, baths, and showers. In particular, sex is had after each time Poppy asserts herself and refuses to back down when people doubt her intentions, or when she fights in a battle. Apparently, these are times Casteel cannot keep his hands off of her.
This was hugely troubling to me. Poppy had been cloistered for her entire life. She had traumatic experiences that she has nightmares about, her parents being murdered, being sexually and physically abused and the first person who exposes her to the broader world is the one she falls in love with. Poppy latches on to the first person who offers her control and stability while continuing to assert his ownership and her belonging to him.
Throughout the sex scenes there is a theme of Casteel asserting that her bravery is the sexiest trait he's ever encountered, how Poppy asserting her independence is a wild turn on. And then they have sex where Poppy proclaims that she is wholly and completely his. Submitting, surrendering, to Casteel.
As I continued reading, I was even more concerned that Armentout is aware enough that the ways in which Poppy and Casteel relate to each is problematic, and then addresses them through character dialogue. In Crown of Gilded Bones, Poppy declares to Casteel that he was her first, but her love is beyond that because he is her everything. Characters profess that supporting free choice, but they can't help themselves, or heightening the internal conflict of the character but no resolution for the internal conflict. Except sex. Apparently, that solves everything.
Rather than getting Poppy help Casteel fumbles along, proclaiming his ownership of her, while pushing Poppy to a relationship with him.
I'm all for reading sex scenes. I read my first harlequin when I was 12. If that is what you enjoy reading, that is okay. And also, kind of fun!
I share this because I am concerned about the message that these books send to teens reading them. Strong, powerful relationships, that hold you, and give you space, and celebrate you, are not relationships where the partner has you sitting on their lap during a formal council meeting. Especially when the council is one that you are trying to win over as the relatively upstart interloper representing a warring kingdom. If relationships, particularly sexual ones, are new to you, The relationship described in this book, is not it. And be careful of the messages you receive while reading these books.
And yet, some of the themes explored could be interesting. Some ideas around free will (there is a prophecy... of course), supportive partnerships that allow both parties to be true to themselves (both Poppy and Casteel try to offer this to each other), and being authentic in sexual relationships. Poppy gradually becomes more comfortable with expressing her sexual needs.
I'm invested in Poppy because I want her to overcome her history of trauma, relate to others in real and healthy ways, and truly be a badass independent assertive female main character, so I will likely continue to follow this series. I just hope there are more opportunities for Poppy to stand on her own rather than only being the product of the trauma she has survived.
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