From Blood and Ash Series Reading Order
By the Ember team · Updated June 2026
The From Blood and Ash series by Jennifer L. Armentrout spans two interconnected series: the main Blood and Ash series (4 books so far) and the Flesh and Fire prequel series (3 books so far, set centuries earlier). The question everyone asks is whether to read in publication order or chronological order.
The author recommends publication order with integration. Read the first three Blood and Ash books, then start the Flesh and Fire prequel series, then return to Blood and Ash book 4. That order gives you the context you need for the prequel to hit the way it is supposed to.
Short answer
The From Blood and Ash series by Jennifer L. Armentrout has six books across two series. Start with the main Blood and Ash series in publication order: From Blood and Ash, A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire, The Crown of Gilded Bones, then integrate the Flesh and Fire prequel series. Most readers follow the author's recommended reading order.
Recommended reading order
This is the author-recommended order that integrates both series. Most readers agree this is the best way to experience the story.
From Blood and Ash
Blood and Ash #1
Published 2020
Poppy never dreamed she'd choose a life with those she's been raised to destroy. But when she meets Hawke, a guard assigned to protect her, everything changes. He's everything she's been told is wrong, and exactly what she needs.
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
Blood and Ash #2
Published 2020
Poppy's world is shattered after the revelations at the end of From Blood and Ash. Nothing is what she thought it was, including Hawke, and the truth about her destiny threatens everything she believed about herself.
The Crown of Gilded Bones
Blood and Ash #3
Published 2021
Poppy discovers more about her heritage and the ancient power she carries. The kingdoms are at war, and she must decide where her loyalties lie and what she's willing to sacrifice.
A Shadow in the Ember
Flesh and Fire #1
Published 2021
A prequel set centuries before the Blood and Ash series. Sera makes a bargain with the Primal of Death to save her people. The deal will cost her everything, but refusing will cost even more.
The War of Two Queens
Blood and Ash #4
Published 2022
War has come. Poppy fights to reclaim what was taken from her while secrets from the past resurface. The stakes have never been higher, and the cost of victory may be too much to bear.
A Light in the Flame
Flesh and Fire #2
Published 2022
The second Flesh and Fire book continues Sera's story with the Primal of Death. What started as a bargain is becoming something neither of them expected.
A Fire in the Flesh
Flesh and Fire #3
Published 2023
The third book in the Flesh and Fire prequel series. Sera's journey reaches its climax as the true cost of her bargain becomes clear.
Publication order vs chronological order
This is THE question for the From Blood and Ash series. The Flesh and Fire books are prequels set centuries before the main series, but they were written to be read alongside the Blood and Ash books, not before them.
If you read the prequel first (chronological order), certain reveals will not land the way they should because you will not have the emotional context from the main series. If you read the main series first and skip the prequel entirely, you will miss connections and depth that make the story richer.
The solution: integrate them. Most readers follow the author's recommended order, which intersperses the prequel series at strategic points in the main series timeline.
Publication order (recommended)
Blood and Ash 1-3 → Flesh and Fire 1 → Blood and Ash 4 → Flesh and Fire 2-3
This is the author's recommended order. The prequel series is designed to enhance the main series, not stand alone. Certain reveals in Flesh and Fire land better when you already know what happens in the main timeline.
Strict publication order
From Blood and Ash → A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire → The Crown of Gilded Bones → A Shadow in the Ember → The War of Two Queens → A Light in the Flame → A Fire in the Flesh
Read everything in the exact order it was released. This works if you want to experience the series exactly as readers did when the books came out.
Chronological order (not recommended for first read)
Flesh and Fire 1-3 → Blood and Ash 1-4
Chronological order means reading the prequel first. Most readers find this less satisfying because the prequel assumes you already care about the world and certain reveals will not hit as hard without main series context.
Where to start with From Blood and Ash
Start with From Blood and Ash. Do not start with the prequel. The main series is the foundation, and the prequel assumes you already care about the world and the stakes.
From Blood and Ash follows Poppy, the Maiden, who has been chosen for a destiny she never wanted. Hawke is her guard, and he is everything she has been told to fear. The book is fantasy romance with fated mates energy, forbidden love, and a twist at the end that reframes everything.
If you like enemies-to-lovers, fated mates, chosen one tropes, political intrigue, and fantasy worlds with vampires and gods, you will like this series. If you hate cliffhangers, be warned. Every book ends with a hook that makes you want to throw your Kindle across the room and immediately buy the next one.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the From Blood and Ash series reading order?
The From Blood and Ash series by Jennifer L. Armentrout has six books across two series. Start with the main Blood and Ash series in publication order: From Blood and Ash, A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire, The Crown of Gilded Bones, then integrate the Flesh and Fire prequel series. Most readers follow the author's recommended reading order.
Should I read From Blood and Ash in publication order or chronological order?
Read in publication order, integrating the Flesh and Fire prequel series as recommended by the author. Start with the first three Blood and Ash books (From Blood and Ash, A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire, The Crown of Gilded Bones), then read A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire #1), then The War of Two Queens (Blood and Ash #4), then continue alternating between the two series. The prequel series hits much harder when you already know the main series context.
Do I need to read Flesh and Fire to understand Blood and Ash?
No. You can read the Blood and Ash series on its own and the story will make sense. But the Flesh and Fire prequel series adds depth and context that makes certain reveals in the main series more impactful. The author designed the two series to be read together in release order, not as separate standalone series.
What should I read after From Blood and Ash?
After finishing From Blood and Ash, read A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire immediately. The first book ends on a major cliffhanger. If you have finished all current Blood and Ash books and want something similar, try Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (war college fantasy romance with dragons), Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (chosen one fantasy with political intrigue), or Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco (enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance with fated mates).
Sources
Series order and reading recommendations verified as of June 2026.
- Blood and Ash Series GoodreadsUsed for series order and publication dates.
- Jennifer L. Armentrout Blood and Ash Reading Order GuideUsed for recommended reading order and series integration guidance.
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