Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.

The entire kingdom’s future rest on Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And a longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden

Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe is theirs through violence and vengeance. And as the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked threat that holds her together begins to unravel.

I have been a long time avid reader of Jennifer and I can say that as her debut high fantasy novel she KILLED IT! Whenever I see ‘high fantasy’ I don’t really know what to expect because it’s always the authors take on what high fantasy is to them and you just never know.   Poppy has been hidden away her whole life, and has a duty to her people and kingdom but has always longed for more…more than just sitting in her room, more than just the few people who are allowed to speak to her and def more than no one ever looking at her fully without her veil in place. And that longing only grew since Hawke came to the castle. There is much that Poppy is unsure of, so question, but the one thing she does know is that she is drawn to Hawke and she is not sure why.  But then things start to happen and Poppy’s world is turned on its axes leaving her with even more questions and uncertainties.

This story gripped me from the beginning to end. This is a different take on Vampires and I loved every second of this high paced, fun witty and surprising plot twisting story.

As always Jennifer has a way with making readers fall in love with her Hero’s and Hawke is no exception…..

That’s not to say that her Heroien is anything less than amazing..Poppy is strong minded and an all around BAD A!

This book is at my top read for 2020 and Jennifer captured perfectly all the aspects of a first book in a series to keep you wanting more. Action, suspense comedy and romance. I can’t wait to see where this world and these characters lead us next!