⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars
A Shadow in the Ember is the prequel book to the story of From Blood and Ash. In this book we follow Sera, who was promised to the Primal of Death as his Consort.

So, when I found out that a prequel duology was coming, set in the same world as From Blood and Ash, I couldn’t pre-order this book fast enough! Fast forward to the release date, and the book is not available for delivery. Fast forward a few months and it is still unknown when the book will be delivered. I wanted to read this book so bad, I bought the ebook version while still waiting for the hardcover to be delivered (still unknown when though… gotta love living in The Netherlands…)

I loved the From Blood and Ash books, devoured all three books in a week haha. The same world, the same magic, but many years before. Just like most of JLA’s books, I had such a hard time putting this book down once I started reading it! It is action packed, spicy and super addicting!

The beginning wasn’t as slow as a lot of the world already was sort of known to me. The focus was a bit more on character-building and I loved it. Very quickly the paced picked up and more and more happened and I got more and more invested. I really liked seeing how the world was similar, but very different at the same time. It felt like looking in those weird mirrors who change your shape. You recognize yourself, but don’t at the same time.

I loved Sera and Nyktos! The way they met and the chemistry they had! It really sparked and was seen from miles away. It was a perfect combination of banter, sexual tension and vulnerablilty. What is really fun is you sort of have a mindset about Nyktos before reading this book, because of the snippets from the From Blood and Ash series, which is kind off hilarious seeing as all those thoughts are quickly thrown out the window.

Sera is really similar to Poppy, which I believe was intentionally done, but I loved Poppy for how strong she was, how she wouldn’t back down, those fierce and outspoken powerful women are just everything to me and Sera definitely belongs with those women. I also really enjoyed the development of the characters in this book.

The small twists were really fun to read and I didn’t see most of them coming! I always expect the unexpected when reading JLA’s books, so everything that happened kept me on my toes in the best way hahaha. Also, something I REALLY loved was the little snippets to the From Blood and Ash series and books, some foreshadowing so what has already happened and what will come! I loved it! Also, damn that ending though. I can’t! Really! Ending the book in that way! WHY?! It truly gave me a good book hangover… HOW CAN YOU END IT LIKE THAT!! T_T (luckily, we don’t have to wait ages for the sequel and The War of Two Queens is coming soon as well!)

Overall, absolutely loved this book, I am obsessed with this world and all these amazing characters! Can’t wait to explore more of this world in all future books.

Read my reviews on the From Blood and Ash series here:
From Blood and Ash review | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire review | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Crown of Gilded Bones review | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️