If you've finished ACOTAR and thought "I want more of this" — then Jennifer L. Armentrout's Blood and Ash series is exactly what you're looking for. The same mix of forbidden romance, an expansive magical world, and a slow burn that will keep you up at night. Only with more plot twists, a spicier edge, and world-building that will completely engross you.
But the Blood and Ash world is bigger than you think. There are two series that play out in the same universe — the main series and the Flesh and Fire companion series — and the official reading order intertwines them. This is the complete guide, so you know where to start and never skip a book.
What is Blood and Ash?
Blood and Ash, released in Dutch as the Liefde kent geen grenzen series by publisher Z&K, is a romantasy series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. It is set in the Kingdom of Solis, a world full of gods, fae-like creatures, and a forbidden romance that puts everything at stake.
The story follows Poppy, a young woman chosen by the gods as the Maiden — a sacred figure who must never be touched and whose life is entirely governed by strict rules. Until she meets the new guard Hawke, who treats her as a person instead of a symbol.
What begins as a forbidden romance grows into an epic tale of identity, loyalty, war, and the gods themselves.
Why are there two series?
The Blood and Ash world consists of two closely related series:
Blood and Ash follows Poppy and Hawke in the present of the story. This is the main series.
Flesh and Fire is a companion series set in the same universe but in a more distant past. The protagonist is Seraphena, who was chosen before her birth to be the wife of the Primal God of Death. Her story uncovers the foundation of the world you get to know in Blood and Ash.
Armentrout recommends reading the series interwoven at the point where the Flesh and Fire books become most relevant to the Blood and Ash plot. This way, you understand references and revelations at the right moment.
The complete combined reading order
This is the officially recommended order where Blood and Ash and Flesh and Fire are read interchangeably:
| # | Title | Timeline | Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | From Blood and Ash | Present | Blood and Ash |
| 2 | A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire | Present | Blood and Ash |
| 3 | The Crown of Gilded Bones | Present | Blood and Ash |
| 4 | A Shadow in the Ember | Past | Flesh and Fire |
| 5 | The War of Two Queens | Present | Blood and Ash |
| 6 | A Light in the Flame | Past | Flesh and Fire |
| 7 | A Soul of Ash and Blood | Present | Blood and Ash |
| 8 | A Fire in the Flesh | Past | Flesh and Fire |
| 9 | Born of Blood and Ash | Past | Flesh and Fire |
| 10 | The Primal of Blood and Bone | Present | Blood and Ash |
| 11 | The Throne of Bone and Ash (finale) | Present | Blood and Ash |
Bonus: Fall of Ruin and Wrath takes place "way way past" in the same universe but is completely separate from the main stories. This book has no direct influence on the main plot and can be read independently.
Per book: what can you expect?
#1 — From Blood and Ash
Timeline: present
Poppy is the Maiden: sacred, untouchable, and completely isolated from the world. When Hawke becomes her new guard, everything changes. Forbidden romance at its best — with a plot twist at the end that turns the whole world upside down.
Start here. Never skip.
#2 — A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
Timeline: present
Everything Poppy believed to be true turns out to be a lie — including the man she loved. A war is coming, and Poppy is right in the middle of it.
#3 — The Crown of Gilded Bones
Timeline: present
Poppy has a right to the crown of the Kingdom of Atlantia, but dark secrets come to light and a long-forgotten power does everything to prevent the crown from landing on her head.
#4 — A Shadow in the Ember
Timeline: past (Flesh and Fire #1)
Now you switch to the past. Seraphena was chosen before her birth to be the wife of the Primal God of Death. What no one knows is that this is not Sera's true destiny. This book lays the groundwork for much of what you see in the main series.
#5 — The War of Two Queens
Timeline: present
Poppy and Casteel are torn apart. As Poppy fights to return to her husband, her powers are tested in ways even the gods had not foreseen.
#6 — A Light in the Flame
Timeline: past (Flesh and Fire #2)
The story of Sera and Nyktos deepens. This book builds on the revelations from A Shadow in the Ember and explains connections that become increasingly significant in the main series.
#7 — A Soul of Ash and Blood
Timeline: present
The Blood Crown has fallen, but a greater threat has risen. Poppy should never have awakened, and the consequences are far-reaching. One of the most emotional parts of the series.
#8 — A Fire in the Flesh
Timeline: past (Flesh and Fire #3)
The story of Sera and Nyktos reaches its climax. This part is crucial for understanding the gods and their power — knowledge you'll desperately need in the final Blood and Ash books.
#9 — Born of Blood and Ash
Timeline: past (Flesh and Fire #4)
The fourth and currently final part of the Flesh and Fire series. Completes the story of the past and paves the way for the climax of the main series.
#10 — The Primal of Blood and Bone
Timeline: present
Primais will fall, and from the blood and ash, new gods will rise. Armentrout had planned this book as one volume, but the story became so vast that it was split. Release: September 2025.
#11 — The Throne of Bone and Ash (finale)
Timeline: present
The long-awaited finale. Expected: Spring 2026. This is the conclusion of the entire Blood and Ash saga.
Can I read Blood and Ash without Flesh and Fire?
Yes, you can — but you'll miss context. If you're new to the series and just want to start, begin with the first three Blood and Ash books. The Flesh and Fire books become more relevant as the main series progresses, and the combined order works best.
Readers who read Flesh and Fire separately after the main series report that some revelations have less impact. The combined order above provides the best experience.
🌶️ Start your Blood and Ash marathon
Our spicy bookmarks are perfect for marking your most intense Blood and Ash moments — because there are many.
→ View spicy bookmarks
Why is Blood and Ash so popular on BookTok?
Readers who have finished ACOTAR are flocking to Blood and Ash — and that's no coincidence. The two series have similar elements:
- Forbidden romance with a secret that changes everything
- A magical world with gods, fae-like creatures, and political intrigue
- A slow burn that first irritates and then obsesses
- A protagonist who is more than she thinks she is
But Blood and Ash also has elements that set it apart: it's generally spicier, the plot twists are more unexpected, and the combined lore of two series gives the world more depth than most other romantasy series.
What to read after Blood and Ash?
Finished and waiting for the finale? These are the most recommended next steps:
If you loved the forbidden romance:
ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas — the forbidden romance between Feyre and the Fae is similar in tension. With ACOTAR 6 on October 27, 2026, now is the time to start or reread.
If you loved the spicy elements:
Ana Huang's Twisted series combines intense chemistry with contemporary romance.
If you loved the magical world:
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros offers comparable world-building with dragons and a military academy.
Don't know what book next? Be surprised with a Blind Date Book (Fantasy) or Blind Date Book (Spicy).
Complete Your Blood and Ash Marathon
🩸 The complete Blood and Ash reading set:
✔ Spicy bookmark — for your most intense scenes
✔ Fantasy bookmark — for the magical world-building moments
✔ Book Review Notepad — jot down what you thought and felt about each book
✔ Reading Log Book Tracker — keep track of which of the 11 parts you've read
✔ Glass Can — for the drink you'll need with the most shocking plot twists
Frequently Asked Questions about the Blood and Ash Reading Order
Where do I start with Blood and Ash?
Always start with Book 1: From Blood and Ash. Never skip this — the plot twist at the end reframes the entire series.
How many books are there in total?
If you follow the combined reading order with both Blood and Ash and Flesh and Fire, there are 11 books, plus the standalone bonus Fall of Ruin and Wrath.
Do I have to read Flesh and Fire too?
You can read Blood and Ash without Flesh and Fire, but the combined order offers the best experience. The Flesh and Fire books explain the lore and revelations in the main series at the right time.
When will the final book be released?
The Throne of Bone and Ash, the final book in the Blood and Ash series, is expected in Spring 2026.
How spicy is Blood and Ash?
Blood and Ash falls into the three to four pepper category. Explicit scenes are present and are part of the story. It is spicier than ACOTAR.
Are the Blood and Ash books available in Dutch?
The first five parts have been translated by Z&K under the name Liefde kent geen grenzen. Whether all parts will appear in Dutch has not yet been confirmed.
What is the difference between Blood and Ash and Flesh and Fire?
Blood and Ash follows Poppy and Hawke in the present. Flesh and Fire is set in the same universe but in the past and follows Seraphena and the Primal God of Death. The two series are deeply intertwined.
📚 Your Blood and Ash marathon starts here
Spicy bookmarks • Fantasy bookmarks • Book Review Notepad • Reading Log • Blind Date Book
Happy reading! 🩸📚