Overall Series Rating: 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 (5/5)
Spice Level: 🌞🌞🌞

Fantasy Elements: Hidden history of the Ascension, vampry corruption, wolven bonds, Atlantians, draken awakening, gods, Primals, prophecy, reincarnation.
Romance Tropes: Forbidden romance → true love, bodyguard romance, enemies-to-lovers, marriage of convenience → devotion, epic war couple, stabby banter, fated mates.

The Wait is Finally Over!

I can’t believe it’s finally here! The Primal of Blood and Bone by Jennifer L. Armentrout is FINALLY about to come out. But, if you’re like me and you binged the Blood and Ash series what feels like decades ago, you may need a bit of a refresher. That’s why I’ve put together this complete Blood and Ash Series Recap — because Jenn always picks up right where we left off (which, as a binge reader, I absolutely love). But as someone who finished the series forever ago, all I could really remember was one thing…

That CLIFFHANGER.
Will Poppy remember?!

So while I am dying to finally get my answer, I knew I had to refresh my memory so I can properly enjoy this book the second it hits my Kindle on September 23rd. I’m sure a lot of you are in the same boat, so here’s your complete Blood and Ash refresher to get you ready.

📚 Note: This book ties directly into Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Flesh and Fire series. I’ve posted a full recap of that series too, since both timelines weave together in The Primal of Blood and Bone.

(Quick note: this post contains affiliate links. If you use my Amazon link here to grab The Primal of Blood and Bone, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my little Romantasy Retreat 💖).

Poppy the Maiden

We first meet Poppy, the Maiden, whose life is dictated by strict rules: she can’t be touched or even seen by others. It’s a lonely, suffocating existence. Her only real companions are Tawny, her lady’s maid and confidante, and Vikter, her loyal guard.

But Poppy has a rebellious streak. One night, she sneaks out to the infamous Red Pearl, where she meets Hawke in that scene — the one dripping with banter and tension that instantly hooked so many of us. Soon after, Hawke becomes her personal guard, and the forbidden chemistry between them only intensifies.

Then comes the betrayal: Hawke is revealed to be none other than Prince Casteel Da’Neer, the missing Atlantian heir. Cas planned to use Poppy as leverage to free his brother Malik from the Blood Queen. Poppy, furious, stabs him (because of course she did). But instead of pushing him away, Cas falls harder for her stabby streak — a joke he lovingly carries through the entire series.

From Political Marriage to Real Love

Cas proposed a marriage of convenience to unite Solis and Atlantia. At first, it was purely political, but on their journey Poppy uncovered the truth about the Ascension — that vamprys are made, not born — and realized her entire upbringing in Solis was built on lies and corruption.

Despite Cas’s betrayal, Poppy forgave him, and what began as convenience transformed into a marriage built on real love. Along the way, she bonded with Kieran, Cas’s bonded wolven and closest friend, who became essential to her journey.

But Atlantia didn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for their new queen — especially not one who was once Solis’s Maiden. Political unrest simmered while Poppy fought to prove herself, and her growing powers began to reveal that she was far more than just Atlantian.

The Joining

Ah yes, the infamous Joining. This was one of those moments where I honestly didn’t know whether to clutch my pearls or cheer. The bond between Poppy, Cas, and Kieran had been simmering forever, and the tension around “will they, won’t they” built like crazy. When it finally happened, it wasn’t just spice for spice’s sake — it was tied to survival, to the deep bond between the three of them, and to the prophecy itself.

I’ll be real — I’m still not 100% sure how I feel about it. Part of me was like nooo, don’t mess with Poppy and Cas’s love story! because I love them so much as a power couple. But another part of me couldn’t help but admit the scene was… well, intense, and it made sense in the context of their bond. It added this complicated layer to their relationship that I never saw coming, and it definitely gave us plenty to scream about in the group chats.

Even though I’ll always root for Cas and Poppy as the central love story, the Joining was a huge turning point. It showed how far their bond with Kieran had come — from trusted friend to something deeper, even primal. Whether you loved it or hated it, you can’t deny it changed the dynamics forever.

Enter the Gods, Primals, and a Bloody Truth

Life in Atlantia isn’t smooth sailing — the people don’t exactly welcome their former Maiden as queen. Poppy’s powers keep growing, and then the world cracks open. She discovers she isn’t Atlantian at all but god-touched — in fact, she’s the Primal of Life. And if that wasn’t enough, her mother is revealed as none other than Isbeth, the Blood Queen.

Isbeth’s backstory is brutal. She was once the lover of Malec, a god and Cas’s ancestor. Poisoned by Eloana Da’Neer, Malec gave her his blood in desperation. Instead of dying or becoming a vampry, she became something else — powerful, immortal, Ascended but without their usual weaknesses. When Malec was exiled and framed, Isbeth’s hatred twisted into vengeance. She vowed to destroy Atlantia and the Da’Neers, starting with their sons, Malik and Cas.

And then there’s the prophecy — the backbone of the entire saga:

A Queen crowned in blood and gold.
A union that will remake the realms.
A great war of Primals and gods against the false king and queen.
The harbinger of the end and the beginning.
The last true descendant of the Primal of Life will ascend, ushering in the era of the Primal of Blood and Bone.

This prophecy is more than ominous poetry — it’s the blueprint of the entire saga. It ties Poppy’s bloodline to the gods themselves, foreshadows the wars to come, and makes clear that her destiny isn’t just to be queen of Atlantia… but to shape the future of all the realms. Every enemy she faces, every betrayal she endures, every power she unlocks brings her one step closer to fulfilling (or defying) this fate.

Lore Bombs and Family Ties

Things escalate further when Poppy meets Nyktos, the Primal of Death, who reveals that he is her grandfather. Her grandmother? Seraphina, the Primal of Life. That means Poppy carries the bloodline of both Life and Death — prophecy fuel if there ever was one.

Enter the draken — Nyktos’s bonded, dragon-like companions. Their return signals that prophecy is in motion, and Reaver quickly becomes a fan favorite.

We also learn of Millicent, Isbeth’s first daughter and Poppy’s sister, twisted into a Revenant. Revenants cannot be killed by ordinary means. Their existence is tied to the tragic story of Sotoria, a mortal woman loved by Kolis, the false Primal of Life. When Sotoria was murdered, Kolis tried to bring her back, defying the natural order. His obsession created the Revenants and shattered balance.

Among them is Callum, one of the most unnerving Revenants. He manipulates and taunts, playing directly into the fate of Sotoria’s soul and Poppy’s destiny.

The kicker? Poppy herself is revealed to be Sotoria reborn. Her soul cycles through death and life, and in this age, she has returned as Poppy. This explains her powers, her connection to prophecy, and why Kolis views her as the key to his rise.

The Prophecy in Action

One of the most powerful scenes comes when Poppy invokes Seraphina’s name during battle in The War of Two Queens. That invocation enacts prophecy in real time, summoning the draken and sealing her role in the fate of realms.

When I first read it, I knew it was important, but I hadn’t read Flesh and Fire yet, so I didn’t fully grasp who Seraphina was. I could tell it was huge, but I missed the emotional punch. If I’d read the series in the right order, I would’ve been screaming in excitement. (Don’t worry — I’ll be creating a Reading Order Guide soon so you don’t make my mistake!)

Cas’s POV – A Soul of Ash and Blood

And then we get Cas’s book. At first glance, it might seem like just a retelling of From Blood and Ash from his perspective, but it’s so much more than that. While Poppy lies unconscious after her Ascension, Cas sits by her side and tells her their story, desperately hoping that when she wakes, she won’t lose her memories. That possibility hangs heavy over everything.

Through his eyes, we don’t just revisit the beginning — we move the story forward. We see Poppy’s health deteriorating, her body cold and fading, and Cas’s constant fear that she might slip away for good. In the present, we also get the powerful rescue of Ires (Poppy’s father), imprisoned in a Shadowstone cage. Watching Poppy reach out and pull him back into his mortal form is such a striking moment — proof that her heritage and her love are what fuel her growing power.

Cas’s perspective also shows us how the Joined bond between him, Poppy, and Kieran strengthens as her power grows. At the same time, Callum’s role escalates: his wards and shadowstone cages prove he’s more than a side villain — he’s a true harbinger of the prophecy’s darker edge.

And then comes the climax. Poppy Ascends. Her transformation into the Primal of Life is not gentle — it’s raw, overwhelming, and terrifyingly beautiful. The gods stir, the prophecy surges, and her power finally takes its true form. As this happens, when a Revenant threatens her, Cas shifts — his own latent heritage flaring as he takes on a beast-like form to protect her. It’s primal and desperate, a mirror to what Poppy is becoming.

And in that moment, Poppy’s eyes flash silver. A sign that she’s not just risen — she is prophecy fulfilled. Her Ascension cements her as more than Atlantia’s queen; she is the Primal who will shape the fate of the realms.

The book closes on the edge of destiny. Poppy’s future, her memories, and the survival of all the realms hang in the balance.

Why The Primal of Blood and Bone Is Such a Big Deal

This book isn’t just a continuation — it’s the collision point of everything: From Blood and Ash, Flesh and Fire, gods, Primals, prophecies, draken, revenants, reincarnation. It all ties together here.

This series completely swept me away. Poppy and Cas are one of my all-time favorite romantasy couples. Their banter, their chemistry, their unconditional love (Cas adores her chaos, stabby tendencies included) — they’re everything. And I also love that Jennifer L. Armentrout doesn’t waste chapters rehashing things at the start of each book. As a binge reader, I adore how the story always picks up right where it left off — no fluff, just pure action.

And now, everything is coming together in The Primal of Blood and Bone. All the bloodlines, all the gods, all the betrayals, all the love — it’s about to explode into one epic continuation.

And finally, the question we’ve been dying to have answered: will Poppy remember?

👉 Don’t miss it! Grab The Primal of Blood and Bone on Amazon here (affiliate link). I’ll be diving in on release day, glass of wine in hand, ready to scream, swoon, and probably cry with the rest of you.

📌 Quick Character Refresher

Main Characters

Penellaphe “Poppy” Da’Neer – The Maiden of Solis; veiled, silenced, and controlled until she discovers she’s god-touched and the true Primal of Life.
Casteel “Cas” Da’Neer (aka Hawke Flynn) – Atlantian prince; infiltrates Solis under an alias; Poppy’s husband and fated partner.
Kieran Contou – Cas’s bonded wolven and closest friend; steady protector and confidant whose bond deepens with both Poppy and Cas.

Atlantians & Wolven Allies

Eloana Da’Neer – Queen of Atlantia; Cas’s mother.
Valyn Da’Neer – King of Atlantia; Cas’s father.
Malik Da’Neer – Cas’s older brother; his capture and manipulation shape much of the early conflict.
Delano – Wolven scout and loyal ally in Cas’s cadre.
Naill – Wolven warrior; protective, steady presence in battle.
Vonetta “Netta” Contou – Kieran’s sister; sharp-tongued, fiercely loyal wolven.
Jasper Contou – Kieran’s father; wolven elder respected among Atlantian leadership.
Emil Da’Lahr – Atlantian commander; witty, charming, and unexpectedly insightful.
Hisa – Captain of the Atlantian guard; disciplined and honor-driven.

The Ascended & Solis Court

Queen Ileana / Isbeth, the Blood Queen – Ruler of Solis, revealed as Isbeth; Poppy’s mother and orchestrator of the Ascended’s lies.
Duke Teerman – Cruel Ascended noble of Masadonia; enforces the Maiden’s confinement.
Duchess Teerman – His consort; cultivates Solis’s myths while enabling corruption.
King Jalara – Ascended ruler allied with Isbeth; ruthless and power-hungry.
Vikter Wardwell – Poppy’s first guard and mentor; moral compass of her early years.
Rylan Keal – Young guard loyal to Poppy; his death exposes cracks in Solis’s lies.
Tawny Lyon – Poppy’s lady’s maid and dearest friend; sunshine and loyalty wrapped in one.
Ian – Poppy’s brother in Solis; his choices challenge Poppy’s beliefs.
Alastir Davenwell – Old wolven elder; manipulates politics and betrays Poppy.
Willa Colyns – Scandalous Atlantian diarist; her writings quietly guide Poppy’s awakening.

Draken & Divine Lineage

Reaver – Young draken who responds to prophecy’s call; loyal to Poppy and Cas; later central in prophecy fulfillment.
Nyktos – Primal of Death; revealed as Poppy’s grandfather.
Seraphina – Primal of Life; revealed as Poppy’s grandmother; her name invoked in prophecy awakens draken and divine forces.

Revenants & Prophecy Threads

Millicent – Isbeth’s first daughter; twisted into a Revenant and revealed as Poppy’s sister.
Callum – Revenant favored by Kolis; cruel manipulator who taunts Poppy about prophecy.
Ires – Poppy’s father; his rescue from Shadowstone imprisonment reconnects her to her mortal roots.
Malec – A god and Cas’s ancestor; once Isbeth’s lover; his fall echoes across centuries.
Kolis – False Primal of Life; obsessed with Sotoria and resurrection; architect of Revenants and imbalance.
Sotoria – Mortal woman loved by Kolis; her soul’s tragic cycle reincarnates as Poppy, tying her directly to prophecy.

Want More? 📚
Blood and Ash Recap (this post!)
Flesh and Fire Recap
From Blood and Ash Universe Reading Order + Guide
The Primal of Blood and Bone Recap and Review
What to Read After the Primal of Blood and Bone