Bound and Unbound: A paranormal novella duology
Ali Hazelwood
A Shadow in the Ember: Flesh and Fire, Book 1
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
About this book
1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout returns with book one of the compelling Flesh and Fire series - set in the beloved Blood and Ash world.
Born shrouded in the veil of the Primals, a Maiden as the Fates promised, Seraphena Mierel’s future has never been hers. Chosen before birth to uphold the desperate deal her ancestor struck to save his people, Sera must leave behind her life and offer herself to the Primal of Death as his Consort.
However, Sera’s real destiny is the most closely guarded secret in all of Lasania - she’s not the well protected Maiden but an assassin with one mission - one target. Make the Primal of Death fall in love, become his weakness, and then...end him. If she fails, she dooms her kingdom to a slow demise at the hands of the Rot.
Sera has always known what she is. Chosen. Consort. Assassin. Weapon. A specter never fully formed yet drenched in blood. A monster. Until him. Until the Primal of Death’s unexpected words and deeds chase away the darkness gathering inside her. And his seductive touch ignites a passion she’s never allowed herself to feel and cannot feel for him. But Sera has never had a choice. Either way, her life is forfeit - it always has been, as she has been forever touched by Life and Death.
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2026
- ASIN
- B092P12K71
Reader Reviews
January 15, 2026
A Shadow in the Ember is a prequel for anyone who has read From Blood and Ash, including those who loved it and even those who might have struggled with some of the writing in the original series. It features rich, dense world-building and deep lore that really pays off as the story unfolds. While the first half of the book shares a lot of DNA with From Blood and Ash, such as mistaken identity and a lack of communication, it definitely feels like a more polished and improved version of...
February 1, 2026
Have I read this book 3 times? Yes. Will I read it again? Also yes. This book is the first in the Flesh and Fire series (often referred to as the \"prequel\" to From Blood and Ash). The Flesh and Fire series is my Roman Empire--books that I return to again and again because they stir my soul. The characters, the story, the world building... everything about this book and this series has my heart in an iron grip. A grip I am happy not to break. The world building is absolutely exquisite. Set...
October 31, 2023
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5) Jennifer L. Armentrout's \"Shadow in the Ember\" is a mesmerizing journey that immerses readers in a world where characters, plot, and a forbidden romance are intricately intertwined. The Characters (★★★★☆): \"Shadow in the Ember\" introduces us to a fresh set of characters that bring a new dimension to the Blood and Ash world. Seraphena, the fierce and determined protagonist, is a captivating figure whose journey from vulnerability to strength is a testament to Armentrout's...
December 11, 2022
I didn’t think it was possible to love a series more than FBAA - until JLA released ASITE. The foreshadowing and ties back to FBAA will have you plotting theories with red string. Not only has JLA written fantastic books, she’s created a world we never want to leave. No other series has made me feel so many emotions as this one, even days and weeks after reading it. As bittersweet and doomed as Sera and Nyktos’ fate seems to be, I don’t want the story to end. JLA has a talent for weaving a...
October 20, 2021
I’ve been a huge fan of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s writing for a while now. And when I started reading the Blood and Ash series last year, I got hooked immediately and I’ve devoured all three books in the series ever since. So when I found out that there would be another book based in the world of the Blood and Ash series, I got super excited. And when ‘A Shadow in the Ember’ got announced, I immediately pre-ordered it. ‘A Shadow in the Ember’ pulled me in right from the very first page. In this...
