3.5/5

For fans of: vampires, shapeshifters, high fantasy, enemies-to-lovers, morally grey characters

Synopsis: In the world of the Ascended, Poppy is the Maiden. Chosen by the gods and favored by the Queen, on the day of the Ascension, she will be given to the gods thereby ensuring the future of the Kingdom of Solis. Raised to be the picture of perfection, she dreams of a life she can never have, a life of freedom and adventure. Unbeknownst to her, the secure world she lives in, behind veils and walls, is about to come down. Inexplicable murders, a rise in attacks from horrifying Craven outside of the city walls, whispers of dissension among the citizens, and the reported movements of the Dark One threaten Poppy’s ascension and the kingdom’s future.

Review: I went into this series knowing absolutely nothing other than its extreme popularity. I wish I had read a synopsis because Poppy is an unreliable narrator. She isn’t trying to be mysterious or manipulative, she’s just far too innocent for her own good. Much like Harry Potter, Poppy’s perspective is severely limited in the fact that literally everyone in authority is hiding things from her particularly things from her past and things happening outside of her veiled world. In fact, the entire reality of her world is hidden from her and thereby hidden from the reader. As the story progresses with twists and turns, more is revealed and Poppy finally starts questioning her reality. The arrival of the overly confident and flirty Hawke Flynn brings some much needed humor and clarity into the story. By the end of the book, with its many reveals and jarring truths, I understood why the beginning is what it is, but I still don’t care for it. There has to have been a better way to weave the mystery. I will say I am invested in the story and characters despite my annoyance with Poppy, Hawke, and the many unanswered questions I am still left with.