Reviews with content warning for Rape - A Fire in the Flesh

God was this painful. The last two books could’ve been one if she’d just shaved away the bullshit. This one’s filler mostly consisted of preachy monologues about what SA is and why it’s wrong. Which is true but didn’t need to be in here 😩 Also spoilers…..

Bro they totally went Bella and Edward when she ascended. With the world ending around them, she woke up and they proceeded to fuck 3 or 4 times before addressing ANYTHING else.

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valerious's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

this book destroyed every single little part of me and I cried till the last page
that's the power JLA has over me

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zanazy's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Daddy Nyktos is back! I loved ASITE but felt let down by ALITF as that book barely moved the plot. This book made up for it in a big way. Sera and Nyktos’ love story is beautifully written and feels real. It is complex, sad, and inspiring and a beautiful representation of love. Nyktos is THE one and only shadow daddy. He deserves all that is good. We get so many new tidbits that I am looking forward to continuing the series to see how it all comes together. Attes is my favorite character in this book, we get to learn more about him and knowing him in this timeline, makes me love his descendant in the current timeline more. Spoilers with my burning questions to follow.

Ok so regarding Ash’s kardia, he and Sera are heartmates which trumps all. He successfully ascends Sera and we see her becoming the queen of the gods and true primal of life. We learn Ash had a vision of Sera when she was born & knew she would become his weakness and had his kardia removed right before he finally brought her to the Shadowlands in an attempt to save her. Also, Sera was never Sotoria, she was a vessel with her soul and Sotoria’s both living inside her. It’s deeply hinted Attes loved Sotoria and it’s this that makes him pledge himself to Sera. The book ends by successfully releasing Nyktos’ dad’s soul from the star so they can use it to hold Sotoria’s soul instead, as ultimately she is the only one who can truly defeat Kolis. Kolis is a creep and I cannot wait for his death. The twist and surprises were learning Callum is actually Sotoria’s brother and the first revenant. And that Sotoria means pretty poppy and based on what we learn, I assume Poppy is Sotoria reborn and the one who can truly kill Kolis. How that will happen when Cas is her mate… I am curious to see play out in the next book.

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clairebartholomew549's review

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book is pretty depressing for the first third or half, and kind of a slog. I appreciate that Armentrout isn't afraid to depict the psychological and physical abuse Kolis puts Sera through, and the effect it has on her, but it doesn't make for the most fun reading, and I missed Ash's and Sera's dynamic a lot (although the dream scenes were definitely a good salve). Everything Sera learns is interesting, though, and her slow realization of her own power and will is captivating. The back half or third of the book picks up a lot, and once Ash was back in the picture I basically breathed a sigh of relief lol. It's obviously inevitable that somehow some way he'll love her, and yet the journey to get there was lovely.

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claragweny's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Of the Flesh and Fire series so far, this was my least favorite because of the first 60%-ish of the book. I think the amount spent on Sera's captivity could have been reduced by quite a bit. I do think the long, agonizing struggle, of what essentially boils down to sexual assault and abuse, really lets us be able to experience Sera's true power and relief when she and Ash are reunited. I just wish that part of the story had been condensed. Oh, but the last 10% of the book? Totally worth it.

Ash is truly the #1 shadow daddy in my rank.

From Blood and Ash spoilers below:
Is it just me or does this book allude to Poppy being Sotoria reborn??

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