I absolutely devoured A Shadow in the Ember. I loved the constant shifting of the plot keeping me invested in the entire book, now I'm ready to instantly dive into the next. The romance and tension was top tier. Sera is strong, relatable and easy to root for, while Nyktos quickly landed in my top tier book boyfriends list. This needs to be on everyone's must read in the romantasy genre.

A Shadow in the Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout is the first book in thr Flesh and Fire Series, published by Blue Box Press.
Originally published in 2021 this is the first book in an epic saga, literally unputdownable and sits on my re-read pile for years.
Seraphena is destined to become the consort of a powerful man, she isn#T much more than a pawn in a dangerous game.
Thrilling, twisty, a masterpiece, this author nailed it again with her wonderful world-ans wordbuilding. I recommend the book and the series that deserve all the stars.

Thank you Jennifer L. Armentrout, Blue Box Press and NetGalley for a copy of *A Shadow in the Ember* in exchange for my honest review❤️

I LOVED this book and if you enjoyed the From Blood and Ash series, this is a must-read! Nyktos and Sera's story pulled me in right from the start and I did not want to put it down! The book is full of action, fantastic world building and slow burn romance.

JLA is a master of writing romance with slow burn chemistry full of banter and tension. This story has the same pulling energy as Poppy and Casteel's but it's set in a completely different time and situation making Nyktos and Sera's story entirely their own. The world building is so much fun - we get gods, dragons (baby dragons especially!!), vampires, wolves - so good! For me, having an understanding about the world and its history from Blood&Ash made it even better. I'm super excited to read the rest of the series!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Dialogue: 😏
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
Characters: 🫶🏻

Epic fantasy romance that hits every mark. Seraphena Mierel is fierce, loyal, and tangled in a prophecy that throws her straight into a world of gods, monsters, and jaw-dropping twists. The banter, the worldbuilding, and the chemistry between Seraphena and Nyktos are absolutely electric.

It is long, layered, and addictive, mixing high-stakes politics with slow-burn spice. Jennifer L. Armentrout proves once again she can balance action, emotion, and tension like no one else. A perfect mix of heartbreak, heat, and divine chaos.

♾️⭐️ I don’t know how it is even possible but I loved A Shadow In The Ember even more than FBAA. Sera and Nyktos are my absolute favorite and this book is my new Roman Empire!!!

The intricate world building, complex characters and incredible banter had me completely glued to this story from start to finish. Sera is the ultimate baddie and Daddy Nyktos is 🔥🥵.

I absolutely loved *A Shadow in the Ember*! As someone who adored *From Blood and Ash*, I’m so glad I knew the right reading order going in — reading these in **publication order** really is the best way to experience the story since everything connects in such cool ways.
Sera completely won me over. Her inner struggle and anxiety are written so honestly, and JLA did such a good job capturing what she’s going through without ever making it feel forced. And Ash? I loved getting to see this side of him. It’s wild comparing how he comes across here versus how the younger characters see him later on in *FBAA*. The Primal of Death turned out to be so much more layered and interesting than I expected, and I couldn’t get enough of their dynamic.

I’ve actually reread this one, and it was just as good the second time around. If you’re planning to dive into both series, I *highly* recommend reading them in publication order — it makes everything hit harder and adds so much depth.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the review copy!

Thank you Netgalley for an e-ARC of Shadow in yh Ember in exchange for my honest review.

I've said this once and I'll say it again, I LOVE JENNIFER L ARMENTROUT'S WRITING! The fantasy worlds she creates always have you feeling fully submerged with how detailed everything is. It's like I'm watching a movie in my head while reading.

Beautiful world building aside, let's talk about some of my favorite quotes:
"make him fall in love, become his weakness and end him"
I mean, an enemies to lovers with an arranged marriage? YES PLEASEEEE. Two of my favorite tropes.

"I want to kiss you, even though there is no reason for me to other than I want it.....I would even go as far as to say I NEED TO"
If you thought Casteel in From Blood and Ash was your favorite book boyfriend, wait till you meet Nyktos.

Or my personal favorite: "What does…meyaah Liessa mean?”
That eyebrow seemed to climb even higher. “It means my Queen." HIS. QUEEN.

Seraphina & Nyktos will easily become one of your favorite book couples. Who doesn't love a meet cute where she tries to repeatedly attack him? Love a girl that's always down to kick some ass (even if the person you're trying to attack is a primal of Death and could easily disarm you). Their banter was just too good and had me constantly turning the page for more.

Side note: I highly recommend reading the From Blood and Ash series. Obviously you don't HAVE to BUT there's so much foreshadowing for what's to come that I completely missed the first time. "If I had a child, or if any descendant of mine had been harmed, I would burn through both realms just so I could flay the skin from the body of the one who’d hurt them." Ahhhh!!! If you love a strong female character with a quirky personality, you're going to LOVE Seraphina. Truly a queen through and through.

Thank you so much to Blue Box Press for the earc, all opinions are my own.

A Shadow in the Ember is the type of book I could not put down. We go back in history, to Seraphena being given to the Primal of Death as his consort. She has a mission given to her to kill him, but they fall in love instead. Just perfection of arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, and virgin mmc.

Seraphena’s future was written 200 years before her birth. Fated to be the Consort of the Primal of Death, she spent the first 17 years of her life being trained and groomed for this role. But her true mission is more complicated: make the Primal fall in love with her, then end him. This is the only way to save her kingdom from the Rot that threatens its continued existence.

After being rejected by the Primal, Sera continues to live her life in the shadows, all while attempting to do what she can for the people in her kingdom. When she meets a handsome God while she is out one night, she can’t deny the attraction between them. And when he keeps crossing her path, for once in her life, she begins to feel something akin to friendship, or more.

When the stability in her life is threatened and she is forced to escape her kingdom and travel to the land of the Gods, she finds out that most of what she was taught was wrong, and the man she began to trust is not at all who she thought him to be.

This story has so many layers, building on the foundation laid in the beginning. As we learn more about Sera and her life, we can see why she is the way she is, and what has led her down this path. I love seeing the relationship with Ash start from curiosity and build into so much more. Despite how the book ends, their connection is undeniable and I can’t wait to see where they go from there.

4.5 stars. Much better than the blood and ash series i think....this one had some elements of horror which I liked. pretty similar to the other series but much better! I love all of the characters and the setting of the book too. Thanks to Netgalley for the book to review!!

I first read this back in 2023, and i fell in LOVE. i love Sera and Nyktos so much. It really helped me grasp a little better on the “past” for the From Blood and Ash series. The characters were so well put together, the storyline kept me on the edge of my seat and i could not put it down. I highly recommend this series to everyone because of how much i loved it

Infinity stars.

Nyktos and Sera have my whole freaking heart.

Sera’s strength and fierceness combined with vulnerability gave us a really powerful character. One which I could see myself reflected in and that is amazing, you are absolutely in invested during her journey.

Nyktos was equally powerful and I loved to see a different depiction of masculinity, without fear of being fragile while being vulnerable and showing care in his own ways.

Their story is one of my favorites and I wouldn’t change a comma.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read it again.

Set in the same universe as From Blood and Ash, A Shadow in the Embers follows Seraphena Mierel, a Maiden chosen by the gods to fulfill a dark prophecy — one that ties her fate to the enigmatic Primal of Death. As she uncovers more about her destiny, Sera must decide whether to follow the path laid out for her or forge her own.
I actually liked this one much more than the From Blood and Ash series. The world felt more focused and the story flowed better overall. Sera is a much more likable and grounded main character — she has purpose, personality, and heart without the constant back-and-forth that bogged down the other series. The dynamic between her and Nyktos is compelling, and the mythology and background adds real depth to the story.
Overall, this was a strong and engaging start to a new spin-off series that I enjoyed far more than I expected.

I was excited to read this because I read the FB&A series and these characters are mentioned there, and I had heard that this series is even better. So far, I think there’s a good chance I will be agreeing with that. This book was SO good. Sera is so interesting as a character and I found myself unable to stop thinking about her. Jennifer’s writing doesn’t always hit right with me but I think this is some of her best work that I’ve read so far. This was tense and addicting and I can’t wait to pick up the next one

Oh my stars… A Shadow in the Ember absolutely swept me off my feet. Jennifer has done it again!

From the first page, I was completely immersed in Seraphena Mierel’s world! A Maiden promised to the Primal of Death, a deadly assassin with a secret mission, and a fate that’s never really her own.

The tension is crazy, the stakes impossibly high, and the romance? Hot, dangerous, and forbidden in all the best ways.

Sera is such a complex, compelling FMC. She’s deadly, determined, and drenched in blood, but also vulnerable in ways only the Primal of Death seems to see. Watching their connection grow...slow, simmering, full of edge of your seat tension had me swooning, gasping, and completely addicted.

The push pull between duty, survival, and desire is relentless, and Jennifer L. Armentrout delivers it with cinematic intensity.

The world building is dark, lush, and immersive. I loved every whisper of magic, every political twist, and every dangerous secret lurking around the corners of Lasania.

The blend of high stakes fantasy, morally complex characters, and scorching romance makes this a must read for anyone who loves dark, seductive fantasies with an assassin meets Primal of Death twist.

If you crave deadly intrigue, forbidden romance, and a heroine you can root for while simultaneously holding your breath, A Shadow in the Ember is your next obsession.

Wow! I could not put this down. Wish I had read it sooner. I'm now away to track down the rest of the series.

A Shadow in the Ember pulled me right back into the world of gods, politics, and tension that Jennifer Armentrout does so well. I really enjoyed getting a fresh perspective on this universe and seeing how everything connects. The pacing was a little slow at times, but the worldbuilding and character dynamics made up for it.

Sera is such a strong main character. She’s layered, conflicted, and easy to root for, and I loved how her relationship with Nyktos unfolded. Their chemistry is undeniable and the banter kept me hooked.

Overall, this felt like the perfect mix of fantasy and romance. It set up a lot for the rest of the series while still standing on its own. Fans of From Blood and Ash will definitely find plenty to love here.