Blood and Ash, #1
From Blood and Ash
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Contents
Chapter One
Overview
Poppy, the Maiden, slips into the Red Pearl to taste anonymity and autonomy. After overhearing rumors of a brutal death, she’s nearly exposed when her guard Vikter arrives. A perceptive hostess shields Poppy by directing her to a vacant room, where an unexpected man seizes her, upending her risky escapade.
Summary
Poppy, the Maiden of Solis, visits the Red Pearl in disguise to briefly escape her controlled life. She plays cards with off-duty Rise guards, who reveal Finley was found near the Blood Forest, drained and torn apart, fueling Poppy’s dread about threats beyond the Rise and her kingdom’s fraying safety.
Exploring the lively rooms, Poppy reflects on her constraints, her approaching Ascension, and her brother Ian’s changed life. Drawn by music and curiosity, she’s intercepted by a striking Red Pearl woman who recognizes Poppy’s identity and hints at being a Seer, promising discretion despite apparent disdain for the Ascended.
When Poppy’s trusted guard Vikter unexpectedly enters the Pearl, she panics, fearing discovery and lectures. The hostess quietly orchestrates a hiding place upstairs, advising the sixth door on the left. Poppy slips away, torn between suspicion and relief, and reaches a dark, candlelit room to wait.
As footsteps sound nearby, Poppy darts inside. Before she can assess the space, a strong arm wraps around her waist from behind. A deep male voice murmurs that her presence is unexpected, startling Poppy and abruptly transforming her bid for temporary freedom into a dangerous, intimate confrontation.
Who Appears
- Penellaphe (Poppy)The Maiden; secretly visits the Red Pearl seeking freedom, narrowly avoids Vikter, and is seized by an unknown man.
- Vikter WardwellPoppy’s personal guard; unexpectedly arrives at the Red Pearl, forcing Poppy to hide.
- Unnamed Red Pearl womanPerceptive hostess who recognizes Poppy, promises secrecy, and directs her to a safe room.
- Phillips RathiVeteran Rise guard in Poppy’s card game; steers talk away from morbid details.
- AirrickYoung Rise guard; shares grisly details of Finley’s death near the Blood Forest.
- SariahWorker at the Red Pearl; immediately attends to Vikter upon his arrival.
- Unknown man in the roomMysterious figure who pulls Poppy close in the dark, surprised by her presence.