So in From Blood and Ash it was theorized that one of Poppy’s parents was an Atlantian or part-Atlantian. In Kingdom of Flesh and Fire they figured out she was a diety. And in The Crown of Gilded Bones – she’s a God now?
Like, is there anywhere else for her to go? I’m almost afraid to read the next one.
On the plus side, we start getting some plot movement!
I must say that Poppy dying was not on my projected plot twists. Apparently God or not, she can be taken out. Fortunately for her, Casteel is entirely willing to unleash yet another blood curse on his subjects and saves her life. Even more fortunately for everybody else, it doesn’t turn her into a ravenous monster. I feel like Casteel shouldn’t buy any lottery tickets, he’s already used up a life supply of good luck.
The scene with Casteel and Poppy fucking against Kieran was… definitely something. Not going to lie, with the number of times the Joining has come up in conversation, I am strongly predicting that a triad will develop eventually. Which is my absolute favourite relationship configuration so I am even more committed to reading this series to the end. (Werewolves are already my favourite paranormal creature, and Poppy finding out she has command of all the wolven made me have to fan myself, I Am Not Kidding.)
We are also introduced to a bunch of new monsters in this book. The Unseen show up with their creepy faceless Gyrms. Later in the book we also find out about Revenants and Draken. It feels like some kind of a cryptid arms-race.
I thought the day of wandering the city together was a nice touch. It shows that not everybody has opinions about who Poppy is, and it makes Atlantia something that feels like it’s worth fighting for. Mind you, once she brings a kid back from death, I imagine more people are going to know about her.
We also get to know Casteel’s parents better. King Valyn seems like a descent enough guy, one who will do what he thinks is necessary regardless of the emotions involved. Queen Eloana, on the other hand, is a hot mess. On the one hand she urges Poppy only to take the crown if she does it for the love of Atlantia, which is a laudable sentiment. On the other hand we find out she poisoned her ex-husband’s mistress and murdered their child? The hell? And also buried her cheating husband in a tomb for 400 years, which OK, I get you were mad, but have not just considered – just getting a divorce? So it turns out that the entire war between Atlantians and Ascended started because two women were fighting over the same man? Seriously?
The most maddening thing about this plot device is if I look at modern real-world politics, it’s not even slightly unrealistic.
So by the end of the book, we know who Poppy’s real parents were and what happened to them. She has lost her brother Ian but regained her friend Tawny, although Tawny might be dying. Casteel is once again imprisoned and Malik is alive, possibly mad, possibly betraying his family and people.
And Poppy is pissed.